Northern Ireland Teachers Vote for Industrial Action Over Pay

A significant majority of members from three primary teaching unions in Northern Ireland have endorsed strike action concerning salary disputes. The NASUWT, INTO, and UTU unions conducted a ballot among their members regarding industrial action during November. The unions stated that the vote was initiated because of the absence of “a satisfactory pay offer for 2024-25.” Educators within each union approved both full strike action and forms of action short of a strike by a majority vote. Specific dates for industrial action have not yet been established, as discussions are continuing between the unions and the employers of teachers, which include the Department of Education (DE) and the Education Authority (EA). The Department of Education expressed that it was “very disappointed the trade unions have escalated to strike action” and characterized the decision as “entirely premature.” In England, teachers were granted a 5.5% salary increase for 2024-25 by the government in September. However, the Labour government has put forward a recommendation for a 2.8% pay increase for public sector employees in England, including educators, for the 2025-26 period. This recommendation has drawn criticism from various unions. Nevertheless, salaries for teachers in Northern Ireland are determined through independent negotiations. Although the 2024-25 financial year has passed its midpoint, no salary agreement for Northern Ireland’s teachers has been finalized. Northern Ireland’s teaching unions approved a prior pay settlement in March 2024, though this agreement was retroactive, encompassing the period from 2021 to 2024. Education Minister Paul Givan recently stated that providing Northern Ireland’s teachers with the 13.5% salary increase requested by unions was “simply impossible.” Mark McTaggart, Northern Secretary for the INTO union, commented that industrial action represents “always a last resort.” He further stated, “‘INTO members have spoken loudly and clearly in voting for industrial action, and their message is simple: they demand a pay rise that fully recognises their worth to society and one which takes account of the current cost-of-living crisis.'” McTaggart added, “‘Teachers across the north are once again the least well paid on these islands, and the employers once again seem content to sleepwalk into a crisis of recruitment and retention of our recently qualified teachers and school leaders.’ ‘Our members have sent the strong message that they have had enough.'” Jacquie White, General Secretary of the UTU, indicated that educators plan to strike in the upcoming year if their salary demands remain unresolved. She remarked, “‘Sadly, there’s been a marked lack of progress on pay negotiations for 2024–25, and teachers are simply not prepared to put up with this.'” White questioned, “‘Why should we accept salaries which are less than our counterparts in England or Scotland when we’re doing exactly the same job?'” Justin McCamphill, NASUWT National Official for Northern Ireland, stated that the outcome of the ballot “drives home the message that teachers have had enough.” He added, “‘While there is ongoing constructive engagement with the department and employers, the current position is untenable.'” McCamphill concluded, “‘Teachers expect and deserve better.’ ‘A satisfactory offer must be made if industrial action is to be avoided.'” The Department of Education, in an official statement, reiterated that the choice to strike was premature, considering that discussions with the trade unions are still in progress. The department further asserted that “continued engagement” represented the most effective path to reaching a resolution “without the need for industrial action.” It concluded by stating, “‘We remain of the view that the issue of pay can be resolved through further engagement and arrangements are in place to meet with union colleagues later this week and into the new year.'”