Teachers have to buy resources for their schools and students despite struggling with low wages amid the cost of living crisis due to lack of investment.
Thousands of teachers and civil servants gathered in Belfast City Hall for a rally as part of a strike action across Northern Ireland on Wednesday 26 April, where they called on the Secretary of State and the UK government to meet with them on wages, investment and working conditions.
The industrial action is the largest in Northern Ireland in more than 10 years.
Read more: Northern Ireland schools closed as teachers and civil servants took part in biggest union action in a decade
A teacher at the rally highlighted the impact of recent education budget cuts and lack of investment in schools saying, “Teachers’ working conditions are your children’s learning conditions.”
Nine different unions took part in the strike action today, closing schools and shutting down government services, including; PCS, GMB, UNITE and all teachers unions, UTU, NASUWT, INTO, NEU and NAHT.
Schools in Northern Ireland have been closed as teachers and civil servants were involved in the biggest union action in a decade.(Image: Justin Kernoghan)
Stevie Jenkins, a lecturer at Dominican College Fortwilliam and chair of INTO’s Belfast Branch, said there are three main reasons why teachers have gone on strike: paying teachers, the level of investment in education and recruiting and retaining staff.
He said: “He said, ‘Teachers have suffered a 20% pay cut since 2010, the largest of any other public sector worker and it’s time we were treated fairly and given the value we deserve.
“We have mortgages, rent, childcare costs and other bills to pay and it’s not yet to the point where many teachers are considered working poor.
“Compared to other parts of the UK and Ireland, teachers are paid significantly less despite doing the same valuable work and teachers here should not be treated any differently than elsewhere.
“The shortage of pay is also adding pressure to education, as it becomes very difficult to attract and retain new teachers if they can go to other countries and get paid more for the same work.”
Siobhan McElhinney, president of the INTO’s Northern Branch, said budget cuts and a lack of investment were another key factor in the strikes and stressed the measures teachers will take to close funding gaps.
Schools in Northern Ireland have been closed as teachers and civil servants were involved in the biggest union action in a decade.(Image: Justin Kernoghan)
She said: “Despite the financial pressure teachers are under, they are still doing everything they can to support their students and it is a regular occurrence in September that you will find teachers buying pencil cases, prit sticks, pencils and workbooks for their students because there are not enough resources for them in the classroom.
In addition, there are significant staffing issues with some 471 teachers now out of the system and schools struggling to find cover with replacement teachers because there is not enough money available in their budgets for them.
“For example, the extended schools program cuts will also have a huge impact on our students, as they are now missing out on breakfast clubs and after-school activities that can make such a difference to their education, especially during the cost of living crisis.
“People need to understand that teachers’ working conditions are your children’s learning conditions and it is their future that is affected.”
NEU member Edel McInerney said: “For the parents reading this, you may not know why teachers have taken this action.
Schools in Northern Ireland have been closed as teachers and civil servants were involved in the biggest union action in a decade.(Image: Justin Kernoghan)
“But what you do know is that we do our best for your children. To give them a good education and make the school a warm and welcoming community, where staff know and understand them and you. Where we give them continuity and stability, with enough specialized teachers, who know their trade and the right resources to help them learn and grow.
“Schools have too many vacancies. Principals tell us about vital subjects – maths, science, computer science, languages - with unfilled vacancies and existing staff teaching classes outside their subject every day. It’s harder to get teachers.
“Dealing with fewer staff also means we can’t provide enough personal support if your children need extra help. And it means they have less access to sports, theatre, music and other activities that make the week good for many students.
“We don’t want to go on strike. We’d rather be in the classroom doing what we do best – teaching and supporting the children of Northern Ireland. But we can’t stand by and watch our colleagues struggle with another real pay cut.”
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