The Minister has been given the money to pay teachers but refuses to do so

Day of action by teaching staff

Chris Bailie, a Party  representative in North Belfast, has given his support to the teachers taking strike action today in the Belfast and Newtownabbey areas.

‘Teachers are hard-working and committed public servants on whom we rely to help, develop, educate and prepare our children for later life. I know that they have not taken the decision to strike lightly,  but I believe that they have been left with absolutely no choice in the matter”, Chris said.

‘Education Minister Peter Weir  has ‘offered’ a 0% pay increase for 2015/16. This is derisory and insulting. The Minister has been given the money to make a 1% pay offer but refuses to offer it’, Chris added.

‘In addition to year on year pay cuts, excessive workload teachers are also facing widespread job insecurity. This is not a small-scale dispute but a debate and a battle over the values this society holds and the value it places on its employees and children’s futures’ Chris added.

I am calling on the Minister to immediately avoid further strike action and relieve the pressure on teachers, parents and pupils by  implementing the 1% rise now and entering into serious and realistic negotiations with the  teaching profession and their representatives’, Chris concluded