One of the island’s teaching unions has denied it is planning to strike but is merely following a legal requirement to renew the ballot.

The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers is also awaiting a response from the Public Services Commission after it complained over comments made by education chief Professor Ronald Barr.

On Tuesday, the Department of Education, Sport and Culture issued a press release saying the NASUWT was preparing to ballot its members over potential strike action.

In the statement, Minister Dr Alex Allinson said: ’I am disappointed that NASUWT has decided to propose strike action. I would again like to thank all our teachers and school staff for their ingenuity and flexibility over the last three months and the amazing effort they have put into reopening our schools for all pupils.’

However, the union has denied it is intending to strike, saying that it is legally required to renew its ballot.

The negotiating secretary for NASUWT, Geraldine O’Neill, said: ’Our re-ballot is to maintain our current ASOSA (action short of strike action) until such time as we see substantial progress in all aspects of our dispute, we are not escalating our action to any other level. It is a legal requirement to renew the ballot.

’The NASUWT dispute is wide-ranging, encompassing pay, pensions, union recognition and workload.

’We have also had a huge increase in membership since we had our first ballot in January as a teacher-led union, it is important to ensure we have the democratic mandate of members to demonstrate to the government that we are moving the issues forward with the agreement of the vast majority of teachers on the Isle of Man.’

The number of teachers being balloted in schools is 478 plus 59 lecturers in UCM.

Mrs O’Neill said the ASOSA would remain the same with no implications, at this stage, on curriculum delivery, instead it would continue to focus on meetings before/after school and lunchtime activities.

She added that the teaching unions that have been in dispute with the DESC had jointly provided dates to the Manx Industrial Relations Service to restart the pay talks and we are now awaiting confirmation from the DESC side.

Meanwhile, the NASUWT and the National Association of Head Teachers are currently awaiting a response from the Public Services Commission after the unions complained over comments made by DESC chief executive Professor Barr during a Tynwald select committee.

During the Public Accounts Committee sitting on June 12, he said that online learning was stunted by the unions throughout the lockdown period.

He added that the failings in online learning were ’mired’ in the dispute and claimed schools had refused to engage with the department. The unions have denied this and reported Professor Barr to the PSC.

This is all occurring at a time where an independent review is being undertaken into the department.