Strike will have ‘further detrimental impact on children and young people’

A planned strike will have a “further detrimental impact” on children and young people in Northern Ireland, education bodies have said.

Teachers and education support workers will be among tens of thousands of public sector workers taking part on Thursday in what is expected to be the biggest strike in Northern Ireland’s recent history, in a dispute over pay.

The education bodies have warned of widespread disruption.

In a statement they said the five teaching unions, Into, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU and UTU, have notified the Teachers’ Negotiating Council (TNC) of their intention to take part in a full day of strike action on Thursday.

The support staff trade unions, Unison, Unite, Nipsa and GMB, have also notified their intention to call on their members to take part in a full day of strike action on Thursday.

Unite also notified strike action for eight days across three weeks on January 17-19 and 24-26 and February 1-2.

A spokesman for TNC management said they “fully recognise the real difficulties and challenges this action presents for schools, parents/carers, and children and young people”.

“We also understand the frustration of teachers and school leaders and recognise that such action is only taken reluctantly,” they said.

“Teachers carry out a vital role and deserve to be paid at a fair rate for the work they do.”

They said there has been continued engagement to resolve the pay dispute dating back to 2021, but it was not possible to make an acceptable pay offer due to budget challenges.

“The impact of this action by large numbers of staff, both teaching and non-teaching, will result in severe disruption and potential widespread school closures, impacting the vast majority of pupils, including some of our most vulnerable, marginalised and deprived children,” they said.

“It will not be possible to gauge the full effect until the strike action has concluded but it is expected to be extensive.

“Members of management side are therefore repeating the call for critical investment in education.

“It is essential that finance is made available so that negotiations can progress, and further strike action is averted.”