PAY AND GRADING REVIEW UPDATE

Some news on our campaign to secure funding and begin implementing pay improvement

At the invitation of Education Minister Paul Givan Education support service trade unions met this week with officials from his Department. Led by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, the delegation also included senior management from the Education Authority.

It was confirmed that there is support at NI executive level for a joint Ministerial intervention with the UK Treasury to secure access to funds outside the NI 2024 Budget to begin the delivery of the 5 year pay improvement plan outlined in the business case.

While this is positive news there is no guarantee that this plan will succeed. UNISON pushed for more detail and a NI specific guarantee that any possible shortfall would be met.

We are awaiting a response. In the meantime UNISON industrial action continues in the form of action short of strike.