16th December 2024
The results of the postal ballot are in:
- Turnout – 49.52%
- Vote for Strike Action – 92.53%
- Vote for Industrial Action Short of Strike – 97.27%
On the back of a strong turnout in the postal ballot we are committed to embarking on a campaign of co-ordinated and planned industrial action in conjunction with our fellow trade union colleagues in the UTU and NASUWT. The NEU’s ballot does not close until Thursday 19 December 2024 when we hope they will be joining these three unions in a campaign of industrial action.
The unions are currently engaging with each other to agree a co-ordinated approach to industrial action. Members will be informed of the timeline and details of the first phase of action short of strike following the Christmas break.
Management side have the power to avert industrial action by making an offer commensurate with our reasonable demands for a fair and just pay rise. Equally, should management side choose not to act, then INTO, with our sister unions will act as you have mandated us to, up to and including strike action. It is now up to the employers to engage meaningfully with us. We all want industrial peace, but we must first have industrial justice.
It is the sincerest hope of the leadership of INTO, UTU and NASUWT at this time, that the employing bodies and the Department of Education see sense and bring forward a worthy pay offer that will be acceptable to you. Should such an offer be made, the INTO leadership will make suitable arrangements for your views to be heard prior to a final decision to either accept or reject it.
Please ensure we have up-to-date contact information for you, so you can be kept fully informed of developments in this dispute and to facilitate your contribution to any decision which may have to be made on a pay offer in the future.
Mark McTaggart
Northern Secretary