Members of NASUWT – The Teachers Union in schools across Northern Ireland are being balloted over industrial action, the Union has announced today.

Education Minister Paul Givan has been informed of the Union’s intentions to ballot for industrial action on pay.
The announcement follows the failure of the Department of Education and employers to bring forward a satisfactory pay offer for 2024-25.

A three year pay offer was agreed in April 2024 for the period September 2021 to August 2024.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:

“Our members have expressed their deep frustration that teacher pay is again falling into arrears. It is unacceptable that teachers have to wait long past the start of the academic year for a formal offer to be made.”

“While the last pay offer was significant and welcomed by our members, the fact remains that teachers’ pay is still well behind where it was in 2010 once inflation is taken into account.”

“Regrettably we have been left with no choice but to hold a ballot of our members for industrial action across Northern Ireland.

Justin McCamphill, NASUWT National Official Northern Ireland, said:

“Inflation has not gone away. The significant increase in prices, for food and energy in particular are hitting teachers hard. When this is combined with high interest rates and ever increasing rents, teachers cannot make ends meet.”

“Teachers in Northern Ireland have watched since the summer as their counterparts in the rest of the UK have received significant pay increases for this academic year and are telling us that they are fed up with being left behind.

“This situation has forced teachers into a position where they are left with no choice but to put the Minister on notice that they will take industrial action if a significant pay offer is not made forthwith.”