6th March 2020
THE Northern Secretary of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has told the Minister for Education to make teachers an offer before the Easter holidays or industrial action, which is currently ongoing, will escalate and will involve all five unions.
Speaking at the 152nd Northern Conference of the INTO, Gerry Murphy addressed delegates who had just heard from the Minister for Education, who was reminded of the agreement in principle which was reached in June 2019.
Mr Murphy told conference that teachers have waited long enough and had expected a formal offer long before now.
Mr Murphy said: “The delay in concluding this business is making our members nervous. We haven’t forgotten what happened in 2016 when Peter Weir MLA withheld the whole one per cent cost of living increase in that year. It was, you recall, the straw that broke the camel’s back and precipitated the industrial action that is currently ongoing.
“The agreement in principle needs to translate into a firm offer. Our members will then have the opportunity to either accept or reject what will be put before them. And lest we forget what is to be put before them, the agreement in principle, deals with the two years past, the years 2017/18 and 2018/19 only.
“The members have a right to an offer and expect it be made to them prior to the Easter Holidays, which, for most schools, will begin the week commencing April 6. This allows time for the London Government to have its budget on or about March 14, for the Executive to follow shortly thereafter followed by some form of limited consultation to take place with civic society.”
Mr Murphy said at that point, or before, if possible, the INTO expect to have an offer made.
He added: “If no offer is forthcoming, prior to Easter, I will convene as soon as possible, in my capacity as Chairperson of the NITC, a meeting of that body to plan and co-ordinate an escalation of the industrial action that all five unions are currently engaged in.
“It is the case that NITC are united and has already had the necessary preliminary discussions and we as a single unit agree that future action, we may take, will involve all five unions and be system-wide and co-ordinated.
“Please don’t consider this as a threat. It is entirely in keeping with the way INTO and NITC has conducted itself throughout this dispute.”
Mr Murphy said that when members return to school after Easter, and should an offer have been made, the union will begin the process of balloting which will include information sharing and explanation through a variety of methods. The members’ decision, should it be to accept the agreement, will then see the union enter a transitional period where changes will be brought about and training delivered to facilitate the changed working environment.
He said depending on timescales this transitional period may have to extend into term one of the 20/21 year.
Mr Murphy added: “In parallel, we anticipate very quickly getting into negotiation for the cost of living rise due to our members for this academic year and the next. Should the members not accept the proposed agreement then Minister I fear we are in for an even more prolonged and difficult period of industrial relations.”
ENDS