Planned strikes by support staff at schools in Northern Ireland suspended

Planned strikes by non-teaching staff in schools across Northern Ireland will not go ahead as planned this week.

Unions NIPSA and GMB have agreed to suspend strikes planned for 3 and 4 June to allow further talks to resolve an ongoing pay and grading dispute.

“Unions met with representatives of the Ministry of Education and the Education Authority on May 31. During these discussions, representatives of the Ministry of Education indicated that they were ready for serious negotiations to resolve the dispute over the salary and grade review,” NIPSA said in a statement.

“As a result, GMB and NIPSA will suspend their strike action on 3 and 4 June,” they confirmed.

Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) has cancelled its planned strike

“However, all unions have made it clear that they will stick with non-strike measures and that they will return to strike action if negotiations are not concluded in good faith and on time,” they added.

“This temporary suspension of strike action provides an opportunity to test the resolve of the Northern Ireland Assembly Executive to remedy this long-standing injustice.”

The Unite union has agreed to suspend its planned strike action only for tomorrow pending further negotiations.

A strike by members is currently planned for Tuesday, June 4th.

Northern Ireland’s Education Minister Paul Givan welcomed the “positive development that unions have agreed to suspend strike action next week to allow for intensive negotiations to resolve the ongoing pay and grading dispute”.

“Above all, this means that many schools that wanted to close on Monday and Tuesday will now be able to open as usual,” he said.

“I am fully grateful for the outstanding role of support staff across the education sector,” he added.

“Without their outstanding dedication and hard work, those who most depend on the services they provide would not receive the vital support they need and deserve.

“I will work with the unions to find a solution and remain confident that progress is possible.

“I will work with my colleagues in management to ensure this outcome.”