A union chief has launched a petition calling on MHKs to demand Chief Minister Howard Quayle to intervene in the negotiations with the island’s teachers.

Rob Kelsall national secretary of the NAHT has launched the petition after two refusals by Mr Quayle to lead negotiations instead of the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.

Mr Kelsall said: ’Given that there have been overwhelming votes of no confidence by the workforce in both the Minister [Graham Cregeen] and DESC, we call upon the Chief Minister to take full responsibility for the teachers’ pay dispute and to bring about a swift resolution to avoid industrial action escalation which may disrupt schools and children’s education which teachers wish to avoid at all costs.

’Tynwald should recognise that education is an investment in our children and young people, not a burden on the Treasury.’ The petition can be found at http://chng.it/Cwq6nLdXZV.

Another union, the NEU, held a members’ meeting on Friday last week and is due to release further information later this week.