To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the potential repercussions for teachers’ pay if they take (a) strike action; and (b) industrial action short of a strike; and (ii) the reasons for these repercussions.

Teachers’ terms and conditions, including pay, are negotiated by the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC). Management Side of the TNC includes representatives from the employers, sectoral interests and the Department of Education. Teachers’ Side of the TNC includes representatives from the five main teaching unions (INTO, UTU, NAHT, NASUWT and NEU).

I understand that Management Side of the TNC has carried out an assessment of NASUWT’s industrial action and it has formed a view that teachers participating in the action short of strike as directed by NASUWT are not fulfilling the full extent of their contractual obligations and are thereby in breach of contract.

My Department is not responsible for the management of the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee although they are a key representative on it.

Discussions are ongoing and I very much hope that Management Side and Teachers’ Side will come to a resolution as soon as possible.