6,500 teachers vote to take industrial action in Northern Ireland

Thousands of teachers in Northern Ireland have voted to take industrial action.

It's part of a row over pay and budget cuts.

In a recent ballot, approximately 6,500 members of the Ulster Teachers’ Union decided to stop short of walking out on strike.

That means they will no longer be co-operating with school inspections from January 12.

General Secretary Avril Hall Callaghan said: “This action will not impact on children as teachers will continue to provide a full service for them. We chose take action on inspections as we believe the inordinate workload they create results in minimal outcome.

“Sadly members feel they have no alternative but to step up their industrial action in a bid to highlight their strength of feeling about the current crisis in our education system.

“Unlike the employers, parents know and largely appreciate the dedication of their children’s teachers but there’s a sense that ‘it’ll all be ok in the end’. But this cannot end well and parents need to know.

“Unless something is done to address teachers’ plummeting morale over pay and to address the future funding issues to allow schools to carry on providing the education our children deserve, the situation will remain unresolved." she said

Last month, members of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in January.

The largest teachers union in Ireland said 95 percent voted in favour of short strike action.