Northern Ireland

NASUWT announces second wave of strike action

 The NASUWT took strike action in schools across Belfast and Newtownabbey in November. Picture by Hugh Russell
 The NASUWT took strike action in schools across Belfast and Newtownabbey in November. Picture by Hugh Russell  The NASUWT took strike action in schools across Belfast and Newtownabbey in November. Picture by Hugh Russell

TEACHERS at schools in Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh are to take strike action this month as part of a long-running pay dispute.

The NASUWT yesterday said its second day of rolling strike action would take place on January 31.

Schools across Derry City and Strabane, Mid Ulster, and Fermanagh and Omagh council areas will be affected.

It follows strike action in schools throughout Belfast and Newtownabbey in November last year.

All main teaching unions have rejected a pay offer that would see staff receive no across the board pay rise for 2015/16, and a 1 per cent cost of living uplift for 2016/17.

The unions are due to meet employers again on January 12, although education minister Peter Weir has already said there is no more money.

Mr Weir urged teachers to go back to the negotiating table and "accept that the pay offer they walked away from is not in a position to be improved upon".

The 7,000-strong INTO is also staging a half-day strike on the morning of January 18.

More schools are expected to be affected by the INTO action than the NASUWT. While most of the INTO's members work in Catholic maintained primary schools, it will be Northern Ireland-wide.

Rather than tell children to stay at home in the morning and return in the afternoon, it is likely many schools will simply shut for the day.

It and other unions - the ATL and UTU - are also refusing to cooperate with inspectors as part of action short of a strike.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said her union's latest strike action could be avoided if there is an improvement on the pay offer for 2015/16.

"It is with deep regret that we remain in this position, but we have been left with no choice. If the next phase of strike action goes ahead, it will be the responsibility of the ministers and the employers," she said.

Justin McCamphill, NASUWT national official for Northern Ireland, added: "NASUWT members are committed and dedicated teachers. They regret any disruption to pupils and parents.

"However, parents will also recognise that unless teachers are recognised and rewarded as highly-skilled professionals and have working conditions which free them to focus on teaching and learning, there will be a long-term detrimental impact on the quality of education provision for their children."