Northern Ireland

NASUWT members vote in support of industrial action

NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach
NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach

MEMBERS of the NASUWT teaching union in Northern Ireland have voted overwhelmingly in support of industrial action in a dispute over pay, workload and adverse working conditions.

Dr Patrick Roach from the union said members had "delivered an emphatic and unequivocal message in voting for industrial action" with 81 per cent of ballot papers returned voting in support of strike action.

The union also said that 98 per cent of members voted in support of action short of strike action. It said that "details of the industrial instruction will be sent to employers and members imminently".

It comes after a recent survey of members found the vast majority of NASUWT members expressed concerns about the failure of the Department of Education and the employers to deliver on its '2020 Agreement', with 74 per cent saying that their workload had increased significantly in the last two years.

In a sign of the challenges facing the profession, 54 per cent also said they were seriously considering leaving teaching.

Dr Roach, NASUWT general secretary, said "there is deep anger at the inadequate pay and the ever increasing workloads faced by teachers".

"This strength of feeling must now be recognised and the pay, workload and working conditions must be addressed by the Education Minister," he said.

"Teachers wish to avoid industrial action but they have been left with no choice by the derisory pay offer and the failure to tackle spiralling workloads.

"Our members are strong and united and they are saying they will no longer tolerate the damage being done to education and to their working lives."