Teachers in Fermanagh were among the 7,000 Irish National Teacher’s Organisation (INTO) members from 800 schools who went on strike over pay conditions on Wednesday morning.

Holy Trinity Primary School was closed until the strike ended at 12.30pm, while in the secondary sector, Mount Lourdes and St. Michael’s pupils were supervised at school until their teachers returned to the classroom.

The dispute arose in October, when all five main teaching unions in Northern Ireland rejected an offer from the Department of Education and employers of teachers in Northern Ireland which saw their pay frozen in 2015/16 and a rise of 1 per cent in 2016/17. 

The unions argue that salaries for teachers in Northern Ireland are falling behind their counterparts in England and Wales. 

INTO announced strike action after a majority of members who voted in a December ballot (2,045 out of 3,056) were in favour of strike action. 
Later this month (January 31), teachers belonging to the NASUWT in Fermanagh will strike.

Gerry Murphy, INTO’s Northern Secretary, said: “INTO members, along with every other teacher, have been denied any wage increase for the 2015/16 year, despite the Minister’s claims to the contrary. They have been offered a mean one per cent for the 2016/17 year.”

Mr. Murphy said INTO has not taken this step towards strike action lightly, adding: “Teachers have had enough and the power to avoid prolonged and significant strike action lies firmly in Mr. Weir and the Department’s hands.”

He added: “We are cognisant of the potential disruption further industrial action will cause for pupils and their parents but we are left with no option. The Department and the Employing Authorities have been exploiting teachers’ goodwill for too long and we have reached a crisis point. We cannot stress enough how much of a crisis this is.”

Chairman of Management Side representing the employers and the Department of Education, Education Authority Chief Executive Gavin Boyd stated: “The employers are extremely disappointed with INTO’s plan to proceed with a half day strike on 18 January. We had very constructive talks with the teacher unions on 12 January and agreed to a further meeting on 24 January.

“It is difficult to see what can be achieved by this action other than a loss of pay by teachers and disruption for schools, pupils and parents.”
He concluded: “The employers remain committed to engaging in intensive negotiations to attempt to resolve issues connected with industrial action. We are encouraged with the agreement to hold further talks. In this context, we urge the teaching unions to end all industrial action and to commit fully to negotiations as agreed.”