Teachers to take industrial action after rejecting pay offer

The majority of teachers in Northern Ireland are set to start industrial action short of striking after rejecting a pay offer.

A 5.5% pay offer for 2024/25 was offered by the employers last week.

The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC), made up of the five main teaching unions, said that after consultation with members they were not in a position to ratify the agreement on the offer.

They said all constituent members of NITC remain committed to engaging in further negotiations in an effort to reach a clear and unrestricted pay award.

NITC chair Jacquie White, who is general secretary of the Ulster Teachers’ Union (UTU), said UTU members had raised concerns around the clarity of the offer and indicated that they were unable to accept at this time.

“We do, however, remain committed to seeking a way forward which delivers resolution for our members,” she said.

NITC secretary Mark McTaggart, who is also Irish National Teacher Organisation (INTO) northern secretary, said their members had said they were unhappy with the perceived restrictions included in last week’s offer.

“It is disappointing that ongoing negotiations have failed to find an amicable resolution,” he said.

“INTO remains committed to finding an uplift that is acceptable to our members, in the meantime.”

NITC vice chair Justin McCamphill, who is also an NASUWT national official, said: “Our members have made clear that the offer as presented to them last week was not acceptable.

“Management side need to draft a pay offer which will meet the legitimate expectations of teachers, action short of strike action will commence on Monday.”

Meanwhile, members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT NI) have voted to accept the pay offer.

NAHT NI national secretary Graham Gault said: “While the membership of NAHT voted in favour of accepting the offer, the wider NITC position means that the offer has not been ratified by all unions and will, therefore, not be progressed in its current form.

“The NAHT will, therefore, engage fully with our own membership to consider our next steps while also remaining committed to working collectively with others to secure an offer that can be accepted by all parties.”

Responding, the management side of the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee expressed disappointment.

They described a “substantial offer of 5.5% as well as wide-ranging commitments on workload issues”.

Chair of the management side Eve Bremner said the offer was “at the very limits of affordability”, adding that the planned industrial action will have “serious implications for children and young people’s education”.

She said the management side has asked the NITC to suspend the planned industrial action and to bring forward proposals to resolve this dispute.

“We are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for pupils and teaching staff,” Ms Bremner said.

“I would therefore again call upon the trade unions to cease their intended industrial action and bring forward proposals to resolve this dispute.”