Teachers to vote on industrial action: 'We have exhausted every possible avenue to avoid this point', say unions in workload dispute
Teachers are to vote on industrial action, after two major unions announced they’re to poll their members in an ongoing dispute over escalating workloads.
Both the largest organisation representing rank and file teachers, NASUWT, and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) are asking whether school staff should take action – which could conceivably include going out on strike, among other options.
Unions today said they have “exhausted every possible avenue to avoid this point”, accusing Stormont’s Department of Education of failing to come up with a credible programme to bring in 27 recommendations on teachers’ workloads set out in an independent review last year.
However Education Minister Paul Givan insists he has already delivered an action plan that “goes beyond” the review’s recommendations “in a number of areas” and amounts to “a strong, public commitment to teachers and school leaders”.
Stating that planned reforms of the education system “set out a clear programme to reduce unnecessary workload”, the minister said he is “genuinely disappointed” that unions are looking at industrial action.
“I would urge teachers and school leaders to consider carefully the full range of reforms and practical measures already in train,” he said. “Meaningful and lasting progress on workload can only be achieved by working together and that work is well underway.”
The unions are adamant that not enough is being done, however, with NASUWT general secretary, Matt Wrack, saying teachers are currently "working unsustainable hours, drowning in bureaucracy, and seeing their profession stripped of dignity”.
“Teachers in Northern Ireland are saying, enough is enough,” he stated. “The department has had every opportunity to act; instead, it has offered delay, lack of clarity and continued confusion.”
The union’s national official for Northern Ireland, Justin McCamphill, said “the wellbeing of teachers and the quality of education for young people are on the line”.
“Our members are exhausted,” he added. “The department have dragged their heels and lacked the courage to take on the difficult issues with clear statements about the requirements places on teachers.”
NAHT officials said the fundamental issues faced by school principals “remain unchanged and continue to worsen” despite talks with the department.
Stated the union’s national secretary, Graham Gault: “Our members continue to experience a severe and unacceptable deterioration in their working conditions.
“While the minister has committed to addressing workload, the reality at school level is that members are not seeing any tangible relief, and the plans brought forward do not yet contain the level of detail and assurance required to give confidence that meaningful change will come.”
Principals increasingly find themselves “managing systemic failures across the education system” instead of leading their schools, the union stated, with body president Joanne Whyte stating head teachers are “absolutely overwhelmed by pressures that sit far beyond the role they trained for”.
"When workload becomes unmanageable, it is not just school leaders who are affected,” she said. “Children lose out.”
According to Rob Kelsall, the union’s assistant general secretary, balloting on industrial action is “a last resort”.
He said: “We have exhausted every possible avenue to avoid this point, including repeated appeals for the Labour Relations Agency to intervene. All have come to no avail.”
Union members are to be polled on industrial action over the summer.