Northern Ireland teaching unions have voted to take “unprecedented” joint industrial action over pay.
Members of the INTO, NAHT and NEU have voted to take co-ordinated action short of strike, with members of the UTU expected to follow.
Teachers in the NASUWT union had previously begun industrial action short of a strike in May of this year.
Earlier this year teaching unions in Northern Ireland rejected a pay offer from employers, describing it as “inadequate”. Unions said the deal offered was made up of a restructure of pay grades, which cost less than an equivalent pay offer of 1% each year.
In a statement, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said their members in the north had “voted overwhelmingly” for industrial action short of strike and strike action following a ballot carried out last month.
Approximately half of their members voted in their ballot, with 98% of them voting for action short of strike and 85% for strike action.
INTO said this “mirrors the results coming in from the other five recognised teachers’ unions, who have also been balloting for industrial action in the same period”.
Northern Secretary at INTO, Gerry Murphy said members were sending “a very clear message to employers”.
“The figures returned in favour of action short of strike and strike action are a clear manifestation of the frustration and anger our members and teachers as a whole are feeling,” he said.
“INTO members wish to see a resolution to the dispute but are determined to achieve a fair and just outcome.
“This willingness on our members’ part to engage with the employers and the Department should not be interpreted as any lack of resolve to take whatever industrial action is necessary and should it be necessary, we will take strike action.
“It’s over to the employers and the Department now. They know where we are,” he added.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) represents the majority of head teachers and school leaders in Northern Ireland. Its ballot was taken because two outstanding pay claims have not been met by the deadline, set by the union, of the 31st August.
Based on a 68% turnout, 93% of school leaders voted in favour of action short of strike and 62% voted in favour of strike action in pursuit of a settlement.
Liam McGuckin, NAHT(NI)’s president said: “With pay erosion now set to reach 31%, meaning that the role of school leadership now pays 31% less than it did in 2010, our members have spoken powerfully to say that enough is enough.
“The consecutive, cumulative pay decreases over the last decade have demeaned and damaged the role of school leadership to the extent that recruitment and retention are in danger.
“This is no way treat a profession that contributes such immeasurable value to society in the face of hugely increased demand, expectation and workload at a time when resource, funding and support have been so significantly reduced,” he added.
It is anticipated that the joint action short of strike would involve a boycott of assessments, with the exception of formal assessments such as GCSEs or A-Levels. It would also impact administrative duties including lesson plans and any unpaid duties.
