A leading teachers' union has urged the secretary of state to deliver a pay rise that at the very least matches that offered to counterparts in England.
The call to Chris Heaton-Harris from the NASUWT came after teaching unions in England agreed a pay increase of 6.5 per cent for 2023-24. Teachers in England have already received a 5 per cent increase for 2022-23, while their counterparts in Northern Ireland have had no pay rise for three years.
NASUWT regional official Justin McCamphill said the union's members were "not prepared to stand by while their pay dwindles and their living costs rise".
"If the prime minister believes that 5 per cent last year and 6.5 per cent this year is good enough for teachers in England it is simply not acceptable that ministers in his government would treat other UK teachers in a worse manner," he said.
Mr McCamphill warned that industrial action may be intensified when the new term commences at the end of the month.
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“The NASUWT is prepared to escalate industrial action in the new term, but we are also prepared to engage constructively in talks with the relevant government departments and employers to begin the process of pay restoration," he said.
"Key to this will be the UK government ensuring that the Northern Ireland public sector is adequately resourced – the secretary of state needs to urgently intervene."
