Schools across Northern Ireland disrupted as teachers from INTO, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU and UTU take strike action

One of the larger unions for teachers, the NASUWT, is calling for a fully funded 12% pay award for 2023/24.

The union said the last 13 years have seen cuts of 38% to teachers’ pay in real terms.

With the continued collapse of the Stormont Assembly and Executive, the union is calling for the UK Government to intervene.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT general secretary, described the pay situation as “simply intolerable”.

“Teachers have not had a pay increase for three years while further education lecturer pay is even worse again,” he said.

“Our members shouldn’t be in the position where they must take industrial action to get the same basic rates of pay as colleagues elsewhere in the UK.

“Teachers and lecturers have seen their pay cut in real terms while their living costs continue to rise on a weekly basis.

“This is a disgrace, and the UK Government needs to address this urgently.”

The Ulster Teachers Union (UTU) said cuts in Northern Ireland’s education system are denying children essential services.

UTU General Secretary Jacquie White said today: “Our decision to strike is not a decision any of us has taken easily but we want to send a resounding message to the powers that be that we are united and we are stronger together,” she said.

“We cannot stress how vital it is that our education system is appropriately funded before the system crumbles, for that is what we are risking.

“Our action today is about so much more than pay – it is also about the pay parity which would give Northern Ireland’s teachers equal standing with their counterparts elsewhere in GB.

“As it stands newly qualified teachers here are on a starting salary £8,000 below their counterparts in Scotland. Where is the incentive to teach in Northern Ireland?

“The profession is hemorrhaging its best people and failing to attract the candidates which until now have given Northern Ireland such an edge when it comes to our pupil outcomes.

“We have been the envy of other parts of GB and yet now teachers here feel they’ve been forgotten and left behind. Our profession seems to be afforded little respect.

Two weeks ago support staff such as bus drivers, school catering staff, classroom assistants, cleaners and other support workers also had a day of action.

On Friday public transport unions are also on strike, causing further disruption to 60,000 children across NI who use bus passes, as well as others who pay for public transport.

Unite, SIPTU and GMB trade unions voted overwhelmingly to strike over what they said was a pay freeze.

A Department of Education spokesperson said: “The Department fully understands the frustration of teachers and school leaders over the ongoing absence of a pay offer. It is regrettable that the Department has been unable to offer teachers a pay award for the past three years similar to other jurisdictions, but it is simply unaffordable within an inadequate education budget.

“Active engagement has been taking place for many months between Management Side and Teachers’ Side of the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC) on a teachers’ pay settlement for 2021/22, 2022/23 and now 2023/24. A joint TNC pay subgroup has met regularly during this period and discussions will continue as soon as finance becomes available.”