Northern Ireland Education Faces 'further Industrial Action' After Minister Offers No Money

GMB Union, which represents more than 3,000 school staff in Northern Ireland, has warned of further industrial action after the Education Minister offered no money for pay.

The union, which represents classroom assistants, kitchen staff, bus drivers, cleaners, admin workers and others, met with Education Minister Paul Givan at Stormont today [Tuesday].

Mr Givan made it clear that within the current public sector pay budget of £684 million there was nothing to address the pay and grading review for school staff, which has been ongoing since 2018.

GMB will now go back to members, with a view to taking further industrial action.

Jim Donley, Regional Organiser, said:

"GMB members across the Education Authority are some of the lowest paid in the country.

"This news will be another blow to workers who have been campaigning since 2018 for an end to the mismatch between grades and responsibilities.

"Previous Stormont Executives have failed to address this - it simply isn't acceptable given a the business case has already been agreed between unions and management.

"GMB now has no alternative now but to engage with our members with the view to taking further industrial action."