Today, members of the school leaders’ union, NAHT, are taking strike action for the third time in Northern Ireland, in a dispute that has lasted for more than a year.

School principals and vice principals are withdrawing their labour alongside tens of thousands of workers from across the entire public service in the greatest ever act of industrial protest of its kind in Northern Ireland.

NAHT Northern Ireland President, Jackie Bartley said: “Three years of total pay stagnation, following ten cumulative years of pay erosion, has brought our profession to the point of crisis.

"Teachers and school leaders have been wholly failed by those with responsibility. Given that the frontline education workforce has held education together despite the devastating swingeing cuts imposed upon schools in recent years, this is insult added to injury.

“That school leaders should even have to argue for fair pay is alarming. That they should have to take industrial action for fair pay, is shocking. That they should have to resort to strike action for fair pay, is disgraceful. That their obvious need for fair pay is used as leverage in a political strategy, is repugnant.”

Paul Whiteman, NAHT’s general secretary, said: “As general secretary I am proud to protest with our members in Northern Ireland today. The whole of the NAHT membership supports their endeavours.

"School leaders, and, indeed, the wider education workforce, have demonstrated the greatest patience and resilience in what they have absorbed in Northern Ireland in recent years.

“This workforce can no longer accept the status quo, and are making their voices heard on a national stage today.

“The funding, which is now clearly available, must be released immediately, and it must be followed by a very swift movement from the Department of Education and employing authorities towards a meaningful negotiation that brings fairness and equity to our members. Nothing less will be accepted.”