General Teaching Council Northern Ireland

Striking teachers to return

03/11/2008 :: Northern Ireland :: The Irish News

Teachers and pupils at Movilla High School are to return to class today after a two-week strike.

Staff at the Co Down school had been on strike in protest at having pay docked for refusing to teach a boy they say assaulted a member of staff.

The strike was suspended last week after employers and teachers' unions reached a settlement.

The agreement centred on how the NASUWT union would provide information to an assessor appointed to assess the needs of the pupil at the centre of the dispute.

A spokesman for the South Eastern Education and Library Board welcomed the settlement.

"We are very pleased this has come to end and only too grateful that all children will be returning to the school on Monday," he said.

The union is suspending its action and has reserved the right to resume the strike if the terms of the agreement are not honoured.

Peter Scott of the NASUWT said the matter could have been sorted out much sooner if the board had been more willing to consider the union's position.

"We welcome the fact this has been resolved but it's just a pity it took so long," he said.