Teachers taking action over pay

Schools across Northern Ireland face disruption with thousands of teachers taking industrial action over pay.

Members of the NASUWT, have said they want equal pay and conditions to their colleagues in England and Wales.

The action includes not covering for absent colleagues, no administrative or clerical tasks and no more than one after-school meeting a week.

Seamus Searson, NASUWT Northern Ireland Organiser, said they had been promised change for years.

"Ministers have been promising to take action to improve the pay and working conditions of teachers in Northern Ireland since 2003. All have failed to deliver," he said.

"NASUWT members have been more than patient.

"Teachers and principals are highly skilled professionals and they need to be recognised as such through their pay and by having working conditions which enable them to work effectively."

In an NASUWT ballot on action in December 89.3% of members voted in favour of action and 10.7% against, the union said.