Minister Welcomes 'Positive' Discussion With Teaching Unions

The Education Minister, Paul Givan, has welcomed a 'positive' meeting with teaching unions, during which the discussed resolving the ongoing pay dispute.

Minister Givan met with representatives of the Northern Ireland Teachers' Council (NITC) which comprises the five recognised teachers' unions - NASUWT, INTO, UTU, NEU and NAHT(NI).

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister said: "I welcome today's positive engagement with teachers' unions and the opportunity it gave to discuss our shared objective of a quick resolution to the ongoing pay dispute.

"Teachers fully deserve a fair and appropriate pay settlement, and I will work to deliver that. It is rightly of the highest priority."

Commenting on the discussion, the Minister repeated his concerns that the impact the ongoing industrial action is having on children. He said: "I am greatly concerned about the detrimental impact continued action is having on the education of pupils, including our most vulnerable children and young people.

"In view of this, and in the context of the opportunity before us to resolve outstanding issues, I asked the unions to suspend industrial action, including action short of strike, to allow negotiations to take place in a more positive atmosphere.”

The Minister continued: "I have made my position very clear. I am committed to working with Executive colleagues to address public sector pay issues and I want to create the environment whereby meaningful pay negotiations through the Teachers' Negotiating Committee (TNC) can commence.”