Teaching unions accept 4% pay rise | UK News

The unions representing teachers in Northern Ireland have accepted a pay rise of 4% for 2025-26.

The pay rise will be backdated to 1 September 2025.

For most teachers, a 4% increase will see their pay rise by between £1,000 – £2,000 a year before tax.

The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) said the offer was “the best achievable outcome on pay for this year”.

The 4% pay increase in Northern Ireland matches that given to teachers in England.

However, the pay deal is likely to contribute towards the Department of Education (DE) overspending its budget by more than £200m.

The pay increase will cost the department about £38m in 2025-26, and around £65m a year after that.

In a statement, Education Minister Paul Givan said the pay award “reflects the value that I place on those working in education, despite the severe financial issues facing education and the wider public sector in Northern Ireland”.

“It firmly demonstrates my support for teachers and recognises the vital contribution they make to children’s life chances,” he said.

“In addition to recognising their value through the pay award, I also want to assure teachers that I will respond to the Independent Review on Teacher Workload within the coming weeks.”

Givan previously said staffing and pay costs meant he would struggle to balance his budget and criticised a multi-year budget put forward by Finance Minister John O’Dowd.

On Monday First Minister Michelle O’Neill said executive ministers were obliged to do all they could to agree a multi-year budget.

The first minister said the funding on offer from London was “inadequate” and that all ministers had hard choices to make.

The NITC represents the five main teaching unions – the NASUWT, INTO, UTU, NEU and NAHT.

In a statement its chairman, Justin McCamphill, said the deal was “a fair and necessary recognition of our members’ dedication and hard work during a period of significant financial pressure.”

“Our member unions conducted thorough consultations with their memberships, and the collective feedback has been clear,” he said.

“While the broader campaign for better funding and working conditions continues, this offer represents the best achievable outcome on pay for this year.”

The secretary of the NITC, Mark McTaggart, said the pay deal brought “welcome certainty for teachers”.

“Our focus now shifts to ensuring the minister delivers on the parallel and critical agenda of reducing teacher workload,” he said.

“The recommendations of the Independent Panel on Workload provide a clear blueprint for meaningful change, and we expect swift and tangible progress.”

The 4% increase for 2025-26 will see a teacher at the bottom of the pay scale, currently earning £31,650 a year, get a pay rise to £32,916.

A classroom teacher at the top of the the pay scale, currently earning £48,919 a, year will see their pay rise to £50,876.