Schools face further strike disruption after Easter

Unite workers went on strike in a dispute over pay last month

The Education Authority (EA) has said it is facing further strike action by the Unite union for almost two weeks after the Easter school break.

In a letter to principals seen by BBC News NI, the EA said it was "very concerned" about the potential impact.

It said it had been notified of further action from 26 April to 1 May and from Tuesday 3 May to Sunday 8 May.

In their letter to principals, the EA said that this would cause "disruption to some education services".

These include "a number of EA home-to-school transport (yellow bus) services, some school meal services and on the availability of a number of classroom assistants, particularly in special schools".

Unite has also confirmed its members in all of the eleven local councils, the Housing Executive, some Further Education colleges, some schools and youth services are planning to take strike action after Easter.

It will span discontinuously across the last week of April and early May.

'Real terms pay cut'

Members of Unite were previously on strike in March over a local government pay offer of 1.75%.

The union called it a "real-terms pay cut".

The cost of living has been surging due to rising fuel, energy and food costs.

Previously, one special school - Glenveagh in Belfast - could not offer face-to-face teaching to pupils as almost all of its classroom assistants were on strike.

It is not yet clear if the school will be able to open for pupils to attend after Easter.

Special schools are particularly affected by the unavailability of Education Authority transport as they rely heavily on the so-called "yellow buses".

The Education Authority said they would "request exemptions for special school classroom assistant staff, and for drivers transporting pupils to special schools," but these have not previously been agreed by Unite.

Strikes at Translink from Monday 25 April could cause significant disruption

Gareth Scott, from Unite, told BBC's Evening Extra programme the 1.75% pay offer was not acceptable to members, describing it as insulting.

"We are taking further action in pursuit of our dispute with the local authority and powers across Northern Ireland, some 18 of them, including the Education Authority," Mr Scott said.

"As the employer just walked away from the negotiating table, we have been left with no alternative but to pursue our claims by industrial action."

When asked whether special schools would be exempt from the strikes, Mr Scott said requests for dispensations would be considered.

"In respect of the Education Authority, I'm not aware that there is a change in our position on that," he said.

"Obviously dispensation requests will be considered but at this moment I'm not aware that any change will be made.

"But our members in those schools have made it clear they wish to be involved in this action, so it would be wrong for them to be ostracised because they merely want to take up their legal right to strike."

Mr Scott has also said he recognises the action may impact some children more than others, but said members should be allowed to "speak up for a fair and proper pay increase".

Full timetable for strike action

• 25 April-1 May and 3 May-8 May: Staff at the NI Housing Executive; nine councils (Antrim and Newtownabbey; Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon; Causeway Coast & Glens; Mid & East Antrim; Belfast City; Derry City & Strabane; Fermanagh & Omagh; Lisburn & Castlereagh; and Mid-Ulster); and three further education colleges (North West Regional College; Belfast Metropolitan College; South Eastern Regional College)

• 26 April-1 May and 3 May-8 May: Staff at Lumen Christi College in Londonderry

• 3 May-15 May: Staff at Ards & North Down Borough Council

• 6 May: Staff at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

The Education Authority also said that a strike at Translink by the Unite and GMB unions due to take place from Monday, 25 April would also cause significant disruption to school transport.

"Whilst Translink are continuing to negotiate with the trade unions to seek a resolution, if this action goes ahead it will result in all Translink bus services, including school services, being withdrawn from Monday, 25 April to Sunday, 1 May and on Friday, 6 May causing significant disruption right across the school transport network," the Education Authority letter said.

"If children connect from an Education Authority bus to a Translink service, parents should make alternative arrangements for the whole of their journey during the Translink period of strike action if it proceeds."

The Education Authority also said the strikes could cause disruption to pupils about to sit GCSE, AS and A-level exams.

"The EA are concerned that this industrial action will once again impact pupils' learning, particularly for those year groups taking key examinations over the coming weeks," their letter to heads said.

"We would therefore ask you to consider how you might provide additional support for pupils who may be unable to arrange alternative transport."