Misinformation spread on social media may have influenced the decision of teachers in Northern Ireland to reject the most recent pay offer, according to several teaching unions. Last Thursday, teachers rejected a 5.5% pay deal and started taking action short of a strike. It was suggested that teachers should “commit to a period free from industrial action”, leading to speculation that this might rule out future strikes. But Jacquie White of the Ulster Teachers’ Union (UTU) and Mark McTaggart of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation suggested this interpretation was incorrect and that future strikes were not precluded. Misunderstandings reportedly originated from social media, with McTaggart suggesting that many members would make decisions based on false information.
Teaching unions had received the 5.5% offer from employers – including the Department of Education – on 31 January. The offer recommended that schools would require a prolonged period free from industrial action and that action should only be taken as a last resort. Union leaders later stated that the recommendation did not require teachers to waive their right to strike. Speaking on the workload commitment aspect of the deal, Eve Bremner, who chairs the management side of the teachers’ negotiating committee, stated that it aimed to provide stability in schools. The 5.5% pay deal was expected to cost the Northern Ireland Executive around £49m.
Tanya Wakeley of St Cecilia’s College, Londonderry and vice president of Northern Ireland’s National Education Union, called the offer “insulting and derisory”. In her view, teachers were struggling with an immense workload and deserved to be paid accordingly. Shortly after a brief consultation, trade unions rejected the offer, disappointing teaching employers who are urging the unions to submit proposals that resolve the matter. Members of the National Association of Head Teachers were reportedly the sole union to accept the offer. Planned action short of a strike was suspended during negotiations but will now continue.
One potential impact from the decision to return to action short of a strike is the likely impact on parent’s meetings in Northern Ireland’s schools. At Sullivan Upper School, for instance, meetings for year eight parents can no longer be held in the evening, so new appointment times will have to be found. In an email to parents Sullivan emphasized that the dispute was not with the school itself, but rather involved all of Northern Ireland
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