29/11/2016
Minister Urges Teachers To Call Off Strike
The Education Minister is urging teachers to call off a planned strike on Wednesday, 30 November.
Mr Peter Weir said the education sector is under "severe pressure".
The National Association of Schoolmasters and Women Teachers (NASUWT) is protesting over pay, workload and fears over job security.
Minister Weir said: "School leaders are struggling to cope with the sustained industrial action in schools since 2011. The escalation of this action, resulting in strike days, will severely harm the education of the children that we all seek to serve. Whilst I recognise most schools will remain open, some will be open to staff only. It will cause major disruption to parents and put further pressure on other teachers and leaders that are already struggling to cope in addition to damaging the reputation of teachers.
"The negotiations are over. The rejected two year pay deal is an increase of 2.61% to teacher’' pay. This includes a general 1% increase for 2016/17 plus automatic time served incremental salary progressions.
"A day of strike will only result in the loss of a day’s pay, effectively much of the 1% the unions are saying they are fighting for."
(CD)
Mr Peter Weir said the education sector is under "severe pressure".
The National Association of Schoolmasters and Women Teachers (NASUWT) is protesting over pay, workload and fears over job security.
Minister Weir said: "School leaders are struggling to cope with the sustained industrial action in schools since 2011. The escalation of this action, resulting in strike days, will severely harm the education of the children that we all seek to serve. Whilst I recognise most schools will remain open, some will be open to staff only. It will cause major disruption to parents and put further pressure on other teachers and leaders that are already struggling to cope in addition to damaging the reputation of teachers.
"The negotiations are over. The rejected two year pay deal is an increase of 2.61% to teacher’' pay. This includes a general 1% increase for 2016/17 plus automatic time served incremental salary progressions.
"A day of strike will only result in the loss of a day’s pay, effectively much of the 1% the unions are saying they are fighting for."
(CD)
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