TEACHERS’ unions in Northern Ireland are balloting their members for strike action because of the lack of “a satisfactory pay offer” for next year.

The NASUWT, INTO and the UTU may well be joined by the National Education Union, which is consulting members over whether they should hold an industrial action ballot.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, the unions said they had told the Stormont Education Minister Paul Girvan that “he needs to make a satisfactory offer on pay” to teachers.