School leaders vote in favour of industrial action

Members of the National Association of Head Teachers have voted in favour of industrial action

Isle of Man school leaders have voted in favour of taking action short of strike in a row over what a union says is the "misuse of disciplinary procedures".

A ballot undertaken by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) saw a 62% turnout, in which 69% voted in favour of industrial action which will take place at the start of the school year.

In May, Rob Kelsall, the union's assistant general secretary, wrote to government chief executive Mark Lewin outlining the union's concerns over alleged "bullying and intimidation of school leaders".

The Department of Education, Sport and Culture has previously said that it "completely refutes" the claims.

The union said the action would include "refusing to engage with the department other than around safeguarding issues".

'Extensive negotiations'

This would include declining to carry out additional duties, participate in governors' meetings, or undertake administrative or clerical tasks, as well as not participating in surveys or audits.

The formal postal ballot ran between 7 July and 11 August.

Mr Kelsall said it was "not a step any head teacher wants to take and it is not a decision that has been taken lightly".

The action was about "standing up for the safety, dignity, and fair treatment of members in the face of disgraceful treatment by the education department".

The union had been in "extensive negotiations" with the government's chief executive to try and "reconcile our differences" but "remain some distance apart on key aspects," he continued.

"We remain ready to hold further discussions with the Isle of Man government to resolve these issues" he said, adding the ball was now in the Chief Minister's court.

The union has raised four areas of concern which were the victimisation of its members, repeated breaches of the fairness at work policy, misuse of disciplinary procedures for teachers and breaches of the code of conduct of public servants.

A Department of Education, Sport and Culture spokesman previously said it would work "constructively" with the union to "avoid any disruption" and remained "committed to finding a fair an sustainable solution."