Threat of NI teacher strike escalates as pay rise request ‘not achievable’

The threat of further industrial action by teaching staff is increasing after the Education Minister said no money is available to meet demands for a new pay settlement.

Teachers have asked for a 13.5% rise on the back of a settlement agreed with the department earlier this year, which ended two years of industrial action.

But that pay deal only brought teachers up to a level agreed years before, and unions are currently balloting members on further strike action, with the latest pay demands looking unlikely to be met.

Minister Paul Givan told the Assembly on Monday that, “in line with the requirements of public sector pay policy, any proposals for a teachers pay award must be affordable”. He said the current pay demands from teachers are “substantially higher“ than the 5.5% pay deal agreed in England.

“This is proving difficult to resolve, given the pressures that are already faced within the education budget,” he said.

Mr Givan said his department was £20m short of meeting a figure for a settlement in line with what has already been agreed in England, an agreement funded by an additional £1.2bn from Westminster.

“It is simply impossible if members believe that this department can deliver a 13.5% pay rise this year,” Mr Givan told the Assembly. “That is not achievable.”

All five main unions are balloting members, which could see a return to action short of strikes in the new year and, unless a settlement is reached, further strike action similar to that which closed schools several times over the past two years.

Geraldine McGowan, chair of the INTO Northern Committee, said the work done in ending the previous dispute could now be undone.

“Teachers feel they have no option, given the inaction by the employers and department on the issue of pay,” she said.

“There is still time to prevent this dispute becoming a prolonged and damaging one threatening all the good work and improved relationships across the system.”

The union’s ballot of members over industrial action, leading up to possible strike action, is due to end on December 16.

“INTO members have demonstrated that they will take action when needed so that a strong message can be sent to the employers. We will not be found wanting,” she added.

Mr Givan also told the Assembly that education authorities had formally asked the unions for ongoing strike ballots “to be stood down”, something which unions have rejected.

NASUWT national official Justin McCamphill said: “Teachers in Northern Ireland are not prepared to be the lowest-paid teachers in these islands.

“The minister needs to secure enough money so that an acceptable pay offer can be made to teachers in order to avert industrial action.

“The NASUWT will not be withdrawing our ballot until such time as an acceptable offer is made and accepted by our members.”

The scale of the financial headache ahead for the department was outlined by Mr Givan, who told MLAs that “hundreds of millions” of pounds were also needed if new schools were to be built and current school buildings were to receive the vital repair work necessary.

“I can only do so much with the budget that is made available to me,” he added.