Teacher strikes across NI on 29 November 2023
Stephen Hawthorne, NASUWT representative at Dromore High School in Co Down, explains why his members joined thousands of others across Northern Ireland on strike today. (PJB)
Transcript
00:00 This is Stephen Hawthorne, Technology and Design teacher at Dromore High School.
00:04 Stephen, the school has been closed this morning.
00:07 Most of your staff have been out on strike.
00:09 You've got members across four unions, is that right?
00:11 That's correct, yes.
00:12 And you're a representative for?
00:14 The NASWT.
00:15 Okay, and do you think it's going to have much impact, this day of action?
00:19 It's hard to know.
00:20 I think we've had continued action now for about a year, and I think it's important that
00:25 we keep up the message, make it clear that action needs to be taken with regards to teachers'
00:31 pay and conditions.
00:32 So for your members here, what's the bottom line about where they are and what they want?
00:38 Well, we want to see a good education system that's going to provide good quality education
00:45 for our children and our children's children.
00:47 At the minute, that's not possible due to lack of funding for education in general.
00:51 But this strike's primarily over pay, isn't it?
00:54 Yes, there is pay there, because with teachers in Northern Ireland, the poorest paid in these
00:58 islands, the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
01:01 You've said that a colleague moved to the south recently and got an uplift of almost
01:06 50% in his salary, is that correct?
01:08 I'm not exactly sure that the exact amount of his 50%, but it is a significant increase
01:14 in his pay.
01:15 And we just can't compete with that here in Northern Ireland.
01:17 We're losing a lot of teachers to the Republic of Ireland.
01:20 And you're saying that you're having problems recruiting staff as well?
01:23 Yes, there's a shortage of teachers on a number of subjects, technology and design
01:27 included, and certain science subjects.
01:29 And they're just starting the system.
01:31 Young people aren't going into education and training for it, they're going elsewhere for
01:35 jobs.
01:36 Because with those subjects, they're going to get better salaries in other fields, basically?
01:39 That's correct, yes.
01:40 And what about the response from parents today?
01:42 Have they had much feedback?
01:45 I haven't heard much feedback here personally, but I know I'm a parent myself and my four
01:49 children are at home today.
01:51 And I know many parents will be put out by this, and that's unfortunate.
01:57 But I think many of them will understand the situation they're in, and will be keen that
02:01 the education system will be suitable and be suited for this day and age.
02:08 There's a lot of unions at the moment that are pointing the finger directly at the Secretary
02:11 of State in the current situation.
02:13 You know that he's the one that's holding the purse strings, as opposed to the Department.
02:17 What's your take on that?
02:18 Yes, well I think that's fair comment.
02:22 There isn't any government sitting in Stromont, and that's fairly as a fact.
02:25 And we can see the lack of money available in the budget.
02:29 But the Secretary of State is responsible, therefore in their absence, we need to see
02:34 him take action to resolve these issues.
02:37 And is your understanding that he has intervened before, or the Secretary of State has intervened
02:41 before whenever it has suited?
02:43 I think we have seen that on a number of occasions, that they have taken action and intervened.
02:48 Under certain circumstances, and so therefore I feel that they could do, they chose to do so.
02:52 [BLANK_AUDIO]