INTO To Strike In Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland branch of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation is to strike later this month, following a 79% vote in favour of industrial action.

The union said it was voting against budget cuts announced by the Department of Education.

The ballot was conducted among the 6,647 members from schools and colleges and resulted in a 34.45% return. 78.67% were in favour of strike action and 97.02% were in favour of industrial action short of strike.

Gerry Murphy, the Northern Secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, said that on Friday 13 March, INTO members will stand alongside their trade union colleagues in demonstrations organised by NIC-ICTU.

"This result quite frankly speaks for itself," he said. "(Education Minister) John O'Dowd has told the education committee schools will likely see 500 job losses for teachers and 1,000 for non-teaching staff due to £28m cuts to his budget. Our members are saying 'enough is enough'.

"Our members have taken the opportunity to express their opinion on the present state of the education system. They have delivered a clear message to those who are charged with managing our education system. They have had enough of the cuts agenda. They demand an end to make do with less.

"INTO members have had enough of their profession being ripped apart to balance the Stormont budget. They demand and expect change."

The results of the ballot come a week after INTO held its annual Northern Conference in Limavady, County Derry.

Mr Murphy said: "These actions will send a clear message to those in authority that change must now occur. Our action will target those who are responsible for the cuts in our education system. INTO will ensure the voice of its members is heard loudly and clearly in the corridors of power by those who insist that austerity is a given."

SDLP Education Spokesperson Seán Rogers added: "The headline figure of a cut in 500 teachers and 1,000 teaching assistants is appalling at a time when huge numbers of young, well trained teachers are forced to leave our shores every year in search of jobs.

"One of the most attractive elements of the Northern Ireland economy is our highly skilled workforce. Such savage cuts to pupil development form a direct threat to that and our strong international reputation.

"Most worryingly, however, is the major impact this budget will have on early intervention. It's important that if we are serious about tackling educational under achievement in communities across Northern Ireland that we have robust early intervention projects. The cuts planned to Sure Start and Early Years are retrograde, entirely myopic and must be challenged.

"The Minister needs to urgently rethink these proposals and speak to professionals in these sectors as soon as possible. Pupil development is a cornerstone of our education system and our economy and must be fiercely defended."

(IT/JP)