The Education Authority confirmed last week they had received permission to enter negotiations with Trade Union Side on the implementation of the outstanding Pay and Grading review. NIPSA, along with colleagues from UNISON, GMB and UNITE will be urgently pursuing the resolution of this long standing delay in addressing the outcome of the 2018 – 2020 pay settlement.
We have also lodged a claim for a Covid Recognition payment to address the inequity for workers in Education who were at the forefront in the provision of vital public services to ensure the rest of our society could continue to function during the height of the pandemic. We are determined to ensure these workers efforts will be rewarded appropriately.
The pay structure within the Education Authority is not fit for purpose and the negotiations we are embarking on will seek to address the erosion of pay differentials, lengthy pay scales and low pay. We welcome the confirmation that negotiations can commence but will need further assurances from Department of Education officials that funding will be available to implement any agreement on pay.