Educating unions settle for 4% pay rise

The unions representing academics in Northern Ireland have accepted a pay rise of 4% for 2025-26.

The pay rise can be backdated to 1 September 2025.

For most academics, a 4% enhance will see their pay rise by between £1,000 – £2,000 a yr earlier than tax.

The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) mentioned the supply was “the best achievable outcome on pay for this year”.

The 4% pay enhance in Northern Ireland matches that given to teachers in England.

However, the pay deal is prone to contribute in the direction of the Department of Education (DE) overspending its finances by greater than £200m.

The pay enhance will value the division about £38m in 2025-26, and round £65m a yr after that.

In an announcement, Education Minister Paul Givan mentioned the pay award “reflects the value that I place on those working in education, despite the severe financial issues facing education and the wider public sector in Northern Ireland”.

“It firmly demonstrates my support for teachers and recognises the vital contribution they make to children’s life chances,” he mentioned.

“In addition to recognising their value through the pay award, I also want to assure teachers that I will respond to the Independent Review on Teacher Workload within the coming weeks.”

Givan beforehand mentioned staffing and pay prices meant he would struggle to balance his budget and criticised a multi-year budget put forward by Finance Minister John O’Dowd.

On Monday First Minister Michelle O’Neill mentioned govt ministers have been obliged to do all they could to agree a multi-year budget.

The first minister mentioned the funding on supply from London was “inadequate” and that every one ministers had arduous selections to make.

The NITC represents the 5 most important instructing unions – the NASUWT, INTO, UTU, NEU and NAHT.

In an announcement its chairman, Justin McCamphill, mentioned the deal was “a fair and necessary recognition of our members’ dedication and hard work during a period of significant financial pressure.”

“Our member unions conducted thorough consultations with their memberships, and the collective feedback has been clear,” he mentioned.

“While the broader campaign for better funding and working conditions continues, this offer represents the best achievable outcome on pay for this year.”

The secretary of the NITC, Mark McTaggart, mentioned the pay deal introduced “welcome certainty for teachers”.

“Our focus now shifts to ensuring the minister delivers on the parallel and critical agenda of reducing teacher workload,” he mentioned.

“The recommendations of the Independent Panel on Workload provide a clear blueprint for meaningful change, and we expect swift and tangible progress.”

The 4% enhance for 2025-26 will see a instructor on the backside of the pay scale, at present incomes £31,650 a yr, get a pay rise to £32,916.

A classroom instructor on the high of the the pay scale, at present incomes £48,919 a, yr will see their pay rise to £50,876.