DESC: 'We don't know how many teachers will strike'

NASUWT taking industrial action next week whilst three other unions accept pay deal

Every effort will be made to keep schools open next week as a number of Island teachers go on strike.

That’s the pledge from the Department of Education, Sport and Culture which says it doesn’t know how many members of the NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union will be taking industrial action.

The first of six days of strike action will take place on Wednesday, 30 November.

Government says it has ‘no choice’ but to plan on the basis that every member of the union will strike on all six days – meaning some children could be asked to stay at home.

It’s a question Manx Radio put to Geraldine O’Neill - the local negotiating secretary for NASUWT – when the strike action was announced:

Industrial action was called by the NASUWT, on 3 November, after members refused to accept a new pay deal from the department which it had described as ‘fair and generous’.

That included an 11.9 per cent pay rise for new starters and an eight per cent increase for school leaders.

Three out of five unions have voted in favour of it - the National Association of Head Teachers, the National Education Union and the University and College Union.

A fourth - The Association of School and College Leaders - has told Manx Radio it’s unable to comment yet on whether it’s members have accepted the offer.

In a statement Louise Hatswell, the conditions of employment specialist, said: “We have consulted with our members over the offer received from the Department for Education, Sport and Culture for the 2022 pay award and will be submitting our response shortly.

“We are unable to comment further until the response has been submitted to the employer and shared with our members.”

Julie Edge is the Education, Sport and Culture Minister: