Derry teachers warn they may withdraw their services from after school clubs if their pay demands are not met

A Union representing teachers in Derry has warned that their members may now withdraw their services from after school clubs and other unpaid work unless an ongoing pay dispute is resolved. The stark warning was issued at a rally held at in the city centre on Tuesday morning in support of teachers who took part in strikes across Derry in protest over pay levels and their current work load. It marks the second time local teachers have engaged in industrial action over the past month, with members of the INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) staging a half day strike on January 17. Tuesday’s strike action was called by members of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), which saw over 40 schools in Derry affected. The union also held a rally at St Columb’s Hall in support of its members, which saw staff from local schools vent their anger and frustration at the ongoing deadlock between the unions and the Education Minister. Speaking at the event, Susan Parlour, head of English at St Cecilia’s College, Belfast and President of NASUWT, vowed that teachers would step up their actions unless they received an agreed pay increase. And Ms Parlour warned that could see teachers involved in unpaid work such as after school clubs now withdrawing their services. “I think there’s a perception out there about teachers that’s completely and wholly wrong, where it seems that people think we work from 9am-3pm and that’s the end of the day,” she said. “Whereas the reality is that we’re working 60 hours plus a week, we have the ETI (Education Training Inspectorate) coming in to call us to account, and on top of that we’re earning less money than we did in 2011, £64 less in take home pay “It’s unsustainable, and on top of that we have an Education Minister who has been putting around the myth that we are getting 2.6 per cent, without factoring in that only ten per cent of the people are affected in terms of the young teachers who start out at less than £23,000.” And she issued a stark warning to the Paul Givan, the Education Minister, if he does not listen to the concerns of local teachers. “We’re escalating our actions because enough is enough,” she added.
“We need to continue to stand up or else be walked on, because we simply cannot sustain this level of work.” She continued: “Good will may be the next thing to go, because all we have to barter with is our labour, so if we take away all the clubs after school we do for free, the whole system will fall apart because at the moment it is running on good will, nothing more.” The event also heard from Beverly McCormick, who has taught at Newbuildings Primary School for the past 13 years, who said that teachers felt that there was a ‘lack of respect’ being shown to the ‘dedication’ of those who work in the sector. “As a union we’re coming together to show our annoyance that we not respected as teachers and I think that our unity here, the fact that we have a united voice will show the Minister of Education that we mean business,” she said. “We want to do our jobs professionally but we want to be respected for the job that we do. “I believe there is a lack of respect for the teaching workforce here, and the dedication that we have, not only to the job, but the children too.” She continued: “The children are the future of this country, and I don’t believe enough importance is being placed on ensuring that the people responsible for their education are valued.”