THOUSANDS of teachers across the north could take strike action this autumn following an agreement to hold a ballot over pay and workloads.
The central executive committee of the Ulster Teachers’ Union (UTU) voted in favour of balloting all members at a meeting last night.
Union members will be asked if they support strike action and industrial action short of striking over a "prolonged pay erosion coupled with a growing workload" facing teachers.
UTU general secretary Jacquie White said members felt "huge regret that teachers feel forced into this", and warned "frustration and anger" over pay and workloads "have left us with no option".
The failure to recognise the contribution of teachers during the Covid pandemic has also contributed to demands for a pay rise, it was claimed.
"The real value of our pay has been continually eroded since 2010, firstly due to austerity measures and then in the form of unfavourable public pay policy," Ms White said.
"We would allay concerns that children could be negatively impacted by industrial action. They too are at the heart of our campaign for they stand to gain a better learning experience."
