Strike Action on Wednesday 29th November - school opens at 12 noon

Half day of strike action by teachers and school leaders on 29 November 2023 - school gates will open at 12 noon.  

To reduce any bottle neck at the school gates please do not bring your car to the school gate before this time. It will leave the road and the surrounding area unsafe for all. 

Dear Parents/Guardians 

I am writing to you about forthcoming strike action by the five teaching unions. You may have seen coverage of this in the news, and I wanted to inform you about the impact this is likely to have at our school.  

Why?  

• Education in Northern Ireland has been systematically defunded in recent years, resulting in decimating reductions in support, resource and capacity.
• The teaching profession has filled in the growing gaps, holding the fragmenting system together and protecting children from the impact of the cuts.
• Pay paralysis, when set alongside the working conditions of the teaching profession in Northern Ireland, is having a devastating impact on the profession, with clear evidence that we will not be able to recruit or retain teachers and school leaders in the future if these issues are not resolved. Education is in crisis.
• Other public sector workers in Northern Ireland have also received pay increases during this time.
• Teachers across the UK and Ireland have received their normal pay increases, several times over the last three years. Teachers in Northern Ireland have received nothing.
• All five teaching unions have been in dispute for over a year, during which time no offer has been made.
• During this year of dispute, action has been gradually escalated, in the hope that an offer of resolution would be forthcoming.
• Taking strike action is the last resort. This could have been avoided and, indeed, can still be avoided.
• The responsibility to resolve this dispute lies squarely with the employing authorities and the Department of Education. When a strike takes place, those taking strike action stop work and withdraw their labour. Everyone involved in the action will, therefore, not teach class(es) or undertake any other duties before 12.00 noon on the strike day.

How will strike action affect St Francis’ PS, Bunscoil Naomh Proinsias and our nursery?  

A detailed risk assessment has been conducted which considers the impact that the action will have on the health and safety of pupils, staff and visitors. As the Principal, I [and the Board of Governors] have determined the school will be:  

• closed to all pupils and upon the completion of the strike action, at 12 noon, the gates will be opened to allow safe passage into the school for the children. To reduce any bottle neck at the school gates please do not bring your car to the school gate before this time. It will leave the road and the surrounding area unsafe for all.

Clearly this is a difficult situation, which will cause you and your family some disruption. I would ask you, however, to be understanding. This is a very unusual circumstance, (although becoming more common), and is the direct result of the failure to take into account the very real concerns expressed by teachers and school leaders. Taking strike action is not something that anyone would undertake lightly. Those on strike will have thought long and hard about their decision and will also lose pay for the period that they are on strike. The responsibility to resolve this dispute lies squarely with the Department of Education and our local government. To make your feelings known about that damage that is being done to our school, the teaching profession and the supporting staff and, of course, our children, you can write directly the following people, in addition to your own local political representatives: 

Sara Long, CEO: Education Authority, 40 Academy Street, Belfast, BT1 sara.long@eani.org.uk  

Eve Bremner, CEO: CCMS, Linen Hill House, 23 Linenhall Street, Lisburn, BT28 1FJ eve.bremner@ccmsschools.com  

Maria Thomasson, Acting CEO, CnaG, Áras na bhFál, 200-202 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6AH mariathomasson@comhairle.org  

Roisin Marshall, CEO: NICIE, 25 College Gardens, Belfast, BT9 6BS rmarshall@nicie.org.uk  

Nuala O’Neill, Director: Governing Bodies Association, Fountain Centre, Belfast, BT1 6ET nuala@gbani.org  

Mark Bailie, Director of Workforce: DENI, Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Bangor, Co Down, BT19 mark.bailey@education-ni.gov.uk  

Mark Browne, Permanent Secretary: DENI, Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Bangor, Co Down, BT19 mark.browne@education-ni.gov.uk  

Yours,  

Orla O’Dowd 

Principal