The head of a leading teachers’ union has urged employers to resolve a dispute over pay as Northern Ireland schools face strike disruption after the Easter break.
Dr Graham Gault, the interim Director of NAHT(NI), was speaking following confirmation that strike action will take place during the last week of April and early into May.
The Education Authority said it has been notified of strike action from 26 April to 1 May and from 3 May to 8 May, which is expected to disrupt a number of EA home to school transport (yellow bus) services, some school meal services and the availability of non-teaching staff, particularly in Special Schools.
Read more: Northern Ireland schools and other public services facing strike disruption after Easter
Unite the Union says the move comes after a "failure of employers to provide an improved pay offer to workers".
Dr Gault said his members support the right of workers to take lawful industrial action and he has appealed to the employers to resolve this dispute with urgency.
"In seeking to manage learning and teaching in schools, we have learned, through our recent pandemic experiences, that teachers cannot be reasonably expected to teach both in class and remotely at the same time.
"This will mean that there will inevitably be disruption in provision for those young people who are unable to get to school.
"Again, therefore, we appeal to the employers to commit to resolving this dispute urgently with a fair and acceptable settlement for the people on whom our children depend."
The Department of Education (DE) has written to school principals advising that most schools should stay open and provide face-to-face teaching during the strike.
It also said it believes the vast majority of parents will be able to put in place alternative transport so pupils can attend but notes that not all pupils may be able to get to school including "some of our most vulnerable children and young people".
The department added that it understands special schools are likely to face "unique challenges during this period given the level of classroom assistants within school and the high level of transport provision engaged for their pupils".
Regional Officer for Unite, Gareth Scott said workers took a "powerful first week of strike action only a matter of weeks ago".
"They also gathered in large numbers at Stormont to highlight their determination to defend themselves from the cost of living crisis," he added.
"These employers need to address the pay expectations of their workforce. Their failure to do so to date has led to this escalation and the unnecessary disruption that will inevitably result."
The strike will fall at the same time as planned industrial action at Translink by two trade unions.
Pupils and other commuters face having no Ulsterbus and Metro bus services for one week after bus drivers from Unite and GMB voted to take strike action over a pay offer from Translink.
The transport unions are calling for a 6% pay rise for drivers.
The strike action is planned to start on Monday, April 25 and will conclude on Sunday, May 1, with an additional single day on Friday, May 6 to mark the Stormont Assembly election count beginning.
Translink has expressed disappointment at the move and said it was working to avoid the action.
And with the planned strike due to take place on the week schools return from the Easter holidays, the transport company has said keeping school services open was a priority.
The following strike timetable has been planned by Unite:
- Education Authority April 26 to May 1 and May 3 to May 8
- Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, Derry City & Strabane District Council, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, Mid-Ulster District Council, North West Regional College, Belfast Metropolitan College, South Eastern Regional College April 25 to May 1 and May 3 to May 8;
- Newry, Mourne & Down District Council May 6;
- Ards & North Down Borough Council May 3 to May 15;
- NI Housing Executive April 25 to May 5 and May 3 to May 8;
- St Columb’s and Lumen Christi College April 26 to May 1 and May 3 to May 8.
Read more: Key dates in shut down of Translink bus services across NI due to strike action
Read more: Translink announces timetable changes to bus and rail services over Easter
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