SSUNI Calls for Pay Increase for Northern Irish Teachers Amidst Strike Action

The Secondary Students’ Union of Northern Ireland (SSUNI) has wholeheartedly endorsed calls from the Northern Ireland Teachers Council for a fair pay offer to teachers amidst an ongoing pay dispute and strike action on the 29th of November.

SSUNI believes teachers’ unions have an important role in making education better for all in Northern Ireland, with Education Officer Gráinne Hollywood commenting, “Teachers are at the very heart of our education. They work tirelessly on behalf of students preparing us not only for exams but for everyday life. The heavy workload of teachers doesn’t correlate with their poor wages, and action must be taken to rectify this. If teachers remain underpaid and poorly treated for the crucial work that they do, the quality of teaching and undoubtedly our education will suffer. Better-paid teachers mean better-taught students.”

SSUNI recognises the extraordinary nature of this action and while we do not welcome the disruption to education that comes with it, the interests of Northern Irish teachers are one and the same as the interests of Northern Irish students. The long-term benefits of a well-funded and robust education system for secondary students must be prioritised.

President Ellen Taylor commented, “The cuts to our education system in Northern Ireland have left schools struggling to support students and teachers’ salaries being by far the lowest in the UK. Time and time again we are warned of the catastrophic impact of cuts to education in Northern Ireland, particularly on the least fortunate students and deprived areas. Education must be prioritised within the Northern Irish budget to secure the best future for the students of NI and ensure we can continue to attract teachers to work within our education system.”