Teachers in Northern Ireland have once again rejected a 5.5% pay increase for 2024/25, raising the likelihood of strike action after already voting in favour of industrial action.
The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC), which represents teaching unions, confirmed that the majority of teachers had turned down the latest offer from education employers, including the Education Authority (EA), the Department of Education (DE), and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).
Despite including measures to address workload concerns, the offer has been deemed insufficient by unions.
The proposed pay rise would have increased salaries for newly qualified teachers from £30,000 to £31,650, while more experienced teachers would have received an increase of £2,000 to £2,500 per year.
The pay rise was set to be backdated to 1 September 2024 and would have cost Stormont nearly £50 million in 2024/25, rising to £83 million in subsequent years.
However, union leaders argue that teachers remain overburdened and under-supported, with inadequate resources affecting their ability to meet students’ needs.
Unions will continue their action short of a strike while considering their next steps. The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) and the NASUWT highlighted teachers’ frustration over workload issues, while the Ulster Teachers’ Union (UTU) pointed to the broader impact of funding shortages on education quality.
Although members of the NAHT union accepted the offer, their representatives stated they wanted a deal that worked for all parties.
Employers have expressed disappointment over the rejection and called on unions to suspend industrial action and engage in discussions to resolve the dispute.
With negotiations at a standstill, the possibility of further disruptions in Northern Ireland’s education sector remains high.
