Teaching unions are planning to hold a briefing for MHKs on their pay dispute.

The National Association of Head Teachers regional officer Jason Ferraby emailed all MHKs with the official announcement of the new industrial ballot action.

In a covering note, he said: ’Despite our very best efforts to resolve the dispute, along with other teaching unions on the Isle of Man, we are now back in a position where we are once again left with no other alternative but to ballot our members on industrial action.

’This move is in conjunction with ASCL and NASUWT unions.’

He added: ’It is our intention to keep MHKs fully informed and we are currently making arrangements for a briefing of MHKs.’

The union is aiming to time that to coincide with the January sitting of Tynwald.

In the statement announcing the ballot, the unions say: ’Teachers and school leaders on the Isle of Man have been forced to accept 10 years of below-inflation pay awards, amounting to real-terms pay cuts.

’Despite the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) last year recommending a pay rise of 3.5% for all teachers and leaders, the island’s government refused to award the full amount to all staff.’

They add: ’Despite repeated attempts by the trade unions to resolve the dispute, and suspension by the NAHT of previous action short of strike action, the working group talks have broken down.

’All three unions believe the situation has reached a point where there is no option other than to act collectively and ballot members.’