NIPSA, the largest union from the non-teaching workforce in Education, announces that members employed as Education Welfare Officers will embark on 3 full days of strike action commencing 2nd March.

Alan Law, Assistant Secretary (Acting), commenting on the planned strike action added:

“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. They are qualified Social Workers and utilise their training and skills to meet the needs of the clients they support.

NIPSA tabled a series of proposals for the Education Authority’s (EA) management to consider as a potential resolution of this dispute. These were rejected and a counterproposal has been made by the EA which does not satisfy the demands of the NIPSA pay parity claim. Education Welfare Officers considered and rejected it. They have instructed NIPSA to proceed with the planned strike action. In addition to the dates listed below, NIPSA is planning full day strike action as follows:

8 – 11 March and 14th – 16th March

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