Givan committed to resolving teachers’ pay dispute

Education Minister Paul Givan has met Northern Ireland’s teaching unions to discuss the importance of quickly resolving the ongoing pay dispute.

Education Minister and DE officials meeting with representatives from the teaching unions.

Earlier today the Minister met with representatives of the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) which comprises the five recognised teachers’ unions - NASUWT, INTO, UTU, NEU and NAHT(NI).

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister said:

“I welcome today’s positive engagement with teachers’ unions and the opportunity it gave to discuss our shared objective of a quick resolution to the ongoing pay dispute. 

“Teachers fully deserve a fair and appropriate pay settlement, and I will work to deliver that. It is rightly of the highest priority.”

Commenting on the discussion, the Minister repeated his concerns that the impact the ongoing industrial action is having on children. He said:

“I am greatly concerned about the detrimental impact continued action is having on the education of pupils, including our most vulnerable children and young people.

“In view of this, and in the context of the opportunity before us to resolve outstanding issues, I asked the unions to suspend industrial action, including action short of strike, to allow negotiations to take place in a more positive atmosphere.”

The Minister continued:

“I have made my position very clear. I am committed to working with Executive colleagues to address public sector pay issues and I want to create the environment whereby meaningful pay negotiations through the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC) can commence.”

Notes to editors: 

1. Failure to reach agreement on outstanding teachers’ pay settlements for 2021, 2022 and 2023 has resulted in the five main teachers’ unions, which make up Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) returning to industrial action in the form of Action Short of Strike (ASOS). This escalated, when four of the unions took a half-day strike action on 21 February 2023 followed by all five unions engaging in a full day strike on 26 April 2023, a half-day strike on 29 November 2023 and a full day strike on 18 January 2024. NITC has indicated that further strike days will follow in the event of the pay dispute not being resolved.
2. The NITC comprises the five recognised teachers’ unions - NASUWT, INTO, UTU, NEU and NAHT(NI)
3. Pay negotiations for teachers in Northern Ireland is carried out through the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC).
4. There are approximately 20,000 full-time equivalent teachers in grant-aided schools with an overall pay bill for the teaching workforce at approximately £1.3bn. NITC are requesting a pay rise over the three years of circa 30% which equates to circa £400m per annum.
5. In Northern Ireland, teachers’ pay, and terms & conditions of employment are negotiated through the forum of the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC). TNC is comprised of NITC representatives (known as Teachers’ Side); and Management Side. Management Side comprises the employing authorities, EA and CCMS and sectoral bodies GBA, NICIE, CnaG, and DE. The management of the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC) is not within the remit of the Department although we are represented and have an influential voice on it.
6. Follow us on Twitter @Education_ni
7. Media enquiries to the Department of Education Press Office at Press.Office@education-ni.gov.uk.

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