Thousands of education workers in Northern Ireland are to go on strike over pay next week.
Cooks, cleaners, drivers, classroom assistants and other staff from unions Unison, Unite the Union, Nipsa and GMB will take strike action on Thursday November 16.
The action will affect 1,800 schools with many having to close.
Alan Perry, GMB senior organiser, said workers “deserve decent pay” in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis.
“Cleaners, cooks and classroom assistants – along with non-teaching workers – do vital work for our children’s education,” he said.
“They shouldn’t be left wondering how they’re going to pay their bills. The Education Authority needs to sort this as a matter of urgency.
“GMB remains committed to finding a resolution to this ongoing dispute over the pay and grading – but not at the cost of our members’ ability to make ends meet.”
Alan Law, assistant secretary of Nipsa said the action was a “significant escalation” for their members working in the Education Authority.
“Nipsa members are joining colleagues from Unite, GMB and Unison who are also engaging in action short of strike action and strike action,” he said.
“There is an anger amongst education workers who feel that the true value of their contribution to the delivery of education has been ignored for too long. They resent being ignored. They are right to feel angry.
“The delays in progressing the matters in this dispute which seek to reform their pay structure, make it fit for purpose and futureproof it just adds insult to injury.
“The current action has demonstrated just how much EA school-based and HQ staff do that is outside their job description and has been taken for granted for years. This goodwill has ended and won’t be returning.”
With Nipsa representing 8,000 members in education and GMB more than 2,000, in addition to other unions at least 10,000 workers can be expected to engage in strike action on Thursday.
The Department of Education Permanent Secretary, Dr Mark Browne, said the strikes would have a significant impact on education services.
“Next week’s planned strike action by Unison, Unite the Union, Nipsa and GMB will undoubtedly cause significant disruption to services right across the education sector and have a major impact on parents and pupils, including our most vulnerable children and young people,” he said.
“This is particularly disappointing given that on November 1 2023 the NJC Pay award, which covers non-teaching staff in Northern Ireland, was agreed for 2023-24.”
Dr Browne said those going on strike should consider the “serious ramifications”.
“I would urge everyone concerned to reconsider, in light of the serious ramifications of this strike and the severe disruption that will be caused,” he said.
The Department said it is continuing to engage with the Education Authority on the content of the pay and grading business case to ensure the proposals are fully justified and affordable.
They further stated that there is currently no budget available to implement this without significant further funding being made available.
