A Northern Irish teachers will vote on strike action in an effort to resolve a long running pay dispute.
The Central Executive Committee of the Ulster Teachers’ Union voted on Tuesday, August 23, to ballot its members on the possiblity of taking industrial action which could see strikes taking place this autumn.
The union has said that the value of teacher's pay has been continually eroded over the past 12 years and the pay offers they have received would leave teachers worse off.
Read more: NI schools face further strikes in new term as teaching union ballots on industrial action
Jacquie White, General Secretary of the Ulster Teachers’ Union said: “It is with huge regret that teachers feel forced into this but our frustration and anger at prolonged pay erosion coupled with a growing workload have left us with no option.
“The real value of our pay has been continually eroded since 2010, firstly due to austerity measures and then in the form of unfavourable public pay policy.
"We would allay concerns that children could be negatively impacted by industrial action. They too are at the heart of our campaign for they stand to gain a better learning experience.”
However, UTU members also feel that their contribution during the pandemic has failed to be appropriately recognised.
Louise Creelman, President of the Ulster Teachers’ Union and a teacher, said: “As a workforce which played such a crucial role during that time, ensuring that key services carried on, we do not believe it is unreasonable to have a pay rise in keeping with inflation and reflecting our contribution during the crisis."
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