Teaching unions suspend industrial action to allow more talks over pay
Industrial action which had been planned for next week by teaching unions in Northern Ireland has been suspended.
Education Minister Paul Givan has welcomed the step which he said would allow for further discussions over pay.
He also said he was committed to securing funding to allow Northern Ireland teachers to receive a pay offer in the context of that offered to those in England and Wales last summer.
Members of teaching unions had voted to take part in industrial action in December.
Action short of strike action had been expected to commence on Monday after unions said teachers had not been offered a satisfactory pay increase for the 2024/25 academic year.
On Friday, the INTO, NEU, NASUWT, and UTU unions agreed to suspend the action.
Mr Givan said: “I welcome today’s positive development that unions have agreed to suspend their planned action short of strike on the issue of pay and to allow negotiations to reach a conclusion.
“Teachers deserve a fair and appropriate pay settlement, and I am determined to achieve that.
“I have been clear with the unions that I am committed to securing the funding required to make a formal pay offer in the context of the agreement reached in the summer of last year in England and Wales, on the understanding that we secure agreement to a sustained period of stability, free from industrial action, including ASOS (action short of strike), in our schools.
“I have asked management side to intensify discussions with our trade union partners to reach a formal agreement over the next four weeks.”
INTO Northern Secretary Mark McTaggart said: “INTO and sister unions have been engaging with the employers to seek a resolution which ensures that members receive an acceptable pay offer.
“To that end we have impressed on the employers that our members are not prepared to accept an offer that does not reflect at least the uplift given to teachers in England and Wales.
“In response to pressure from the unions, the minister has committed to securing the funding to make a formal pay offer in the context of the agreements reached in the last year in England and Wales.”
Mr McTaggart added: “Considering this and the positive engagement at the pay talks all unions have agreed to suspend the implementation of action short of strike action for a period of four weeks in an effort to successfully conclude negotiations.
“We have not taken this step lightly and are fully prepared to reissue industrial action notices if required at the end of the four-week period.”
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