"Longest strike action in Education Authority history" set to begin in NI

By Q Radio News

Members of the largest public service trade union in Northern Ireland (NIPSA) will today begin the "longest period of continuous strike action in the history of the Education Authority".

The union has announced that around 130 Education Welfare Officers will partake in a strike for 16 days in a dispute over pay.

The dispute is that these officers are paid more than £5,000 per annum, which is less than their colleagues employed by the Health and Social Care Trusts.

Members of the largest public service trade union in Northern Ireland (NIPSA) will today begin the "longest period of continuous strike action in the history of the Education Authority".https://t.co/toprMM3o2Q

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) March 8, 2022

Alan Law, Assistant Secretary (Acting), said:

“Education Welfare Officers play a hugely important role in the education of children and young people.

"They are instrumental in ensuring that attendance levels improve and work with families to ensure that this happens.

"There are extensive waiting lists to access an Education Welfare Officer.

"As of 31 January 2022, 925 children and young people are not having their needs met by the Education Authority.

"NIPSA regrets that the refusal by the Education Authority to address the pay demand is leading to increased waiting times,

"NIPSA members want to be providing for these vulnerable children and their families, but staff continue to be forced into industrial action as all other attempts to resolve this dispute have failed.

"As a result, NIPSA members continue their industrial action tomorrow and will be participating in almost continuous strike action from 8 March until 1 April.

"We remain ready to enter meaningful negotiations to resolve this dispute and call on all the Education Authority to do likewise.”