SCHOOL’S OUT.. FOR TEACHERS
Unions bid to hold pay strike
SCHOOLS could face a series of teacher pay strikes affecting 900,000 pupils, it was revealed yesterday.
Students are set to return after the Easter break to the threat of walkouts by all three staff unions.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation began its Co Kerry congress yesterday with calls for equal wages for younger workers.
President John Boyle said new staff were harder hit by lower pay scales.
He added: “Young teachers received assurance they would be treated with dignity and respect in terms of equal pay.
“Is it any wonder so many teachers have moved to other countries where their expertise is valued?” The Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland is also set to begin its conference today with pay motions.
The INTO and ASTI groups are expected to hold ballots of their members in the coming months.
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland has already got a mandate that would allow it to stage walkouts.
Mr Boyle told RTE a graduate stands to lose €100,000 over their career. Labour TD Aodhan O Riordain also backed staff and hit out at mixed messages on wages.
He said: “Pay inequality for newly qualified teachers was introduced by Fianna Fail in 2011 and remains one of the last major outstanding legacy issues of the economic collapse.
“The tough talking by FF is hardly credible when you consider they claim to have co-written the last two budgets introduced by the Fine Gael-led government.
“If FF were serious they would demand a pay restoration road map as a precondition for supporting the education budget this autumn.”