Northern Ireland

Teaching unions in Northern Ireland accept formal pay offer

The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) and management met on Tuesday

Education Minister Paul Givan said the Strule Shared Education Campus could not proceed without the restoration of funding
Education Minister Paul Givan (Liam McBurney/PA)

A pay offer has been accepted by the five main teaching unions in Northern Ireland, which will increase starting salaries and bring wages level with England.

It comes after the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) and management met on Tuesday to formally ratify the pay agreement for 2021-2023.

Caoimhin MacColaim, chairperson of INTO northern committee said: “While the offer is not perfect, it represents a significant uplift in pay for all teachers and school leaders”.

Under the terms of the agreement the starting salary for teachers will increase to £30,000 and teacher and leadership pay scales will increase by 10.4% plus £1,000 consolidated.

Mark McTaggart, INTO northern secretary, added that the offer came “as a result of the determined and resolute action of our teachers and school leaders through 18 months of solid industrial action”.

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“It represents a step towards pay restoration for teachers and school leaders pay going forward,” he said.

“The NITC will continue to work together for full pay restoration, beginning with renewed negotiation around a pay settlement for the year beginning September 2024.”



Education minister Paul Givan said: “I am pleased that the five trade unions which make up the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) have formally accepted a pay offer today on behalf of their members.

“This settlement will see the end to all industrial action by teachers and school leaders which has been ongoing since May 2022.”