Statement from Education Minister on teachers’ pay negotiations

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has said she is disappointed with a lack of progress on teachers’ pay negotiations.

A formal offer on teachers’ pay for 2021/22 and 2022/23, which was made to the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) has been rejected.

Education Minister Michelle McIlveen said: “I am disappointed that the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) have rejected the pay offer that was made to them last week.

“Management Side had offered a two-year pay deal worth 3.2% from 1 September 2021.  The pay award would have seen the removal of the bottom point of the current teachers’ pay scale and the addition of a further point at the top of the scale, with a similar approach applied to each of the pay ranges for school leaders.”

In conclusion, the Minister said:

“This pay offer had been made despite a very difficult financial situation and I had hoped that this would have led to a completion of the pay negotiations for 2021/22 and 2022/23 during the current mandate. Management Side will now take time to consider how the matter should be progressed before engaging again with NITC.”

Notes to editors: 

1. Management Side of the Teachers’ Negotiating Council (TNC) made a two year pay offer for 2021/22 and 2022 worth a total of 3.2% to the NITC on 7 February 2022.
2. The NITC subsequently consulted their membership and met with Management Side on 16 February 2022 when they formally rejected the offer.
3. Management Side will now take time to consider how the matter should be progressed.
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