Open letter to Deputy Tony McLoughlin TD
I wish to ask you a question. Are you for or against pay equality for young teachers?
I would like to think that you are and if so, I would like to ask what you are doing to aid the cause as my public representative.
In the Dáil on the 5th of December, you were the teller of a bill to maintain a temporary piece of FEMPI legislation which has now lasted nine years.
In the Dáil on the 7th of December, you were the teller of a Section 21 of the PSSA. Section 21 of the PSSA suspends agreed pay increments for public sector workers who have not agreed to a new pay agreement. I think that when it comes to any pay agreement between an employer and an employee, an employee has a right to reject any new pay agreement without fear of punitive measures being taken.
As you know, the reason why teachers rejected the pay agreement is because of the two-tier pay scale which has punished young Irish men and women for 7 years now. Thousands of young teachers have given up tens of thousands of euros for their country. We have given up enough. I’m writing today to let you know that the actions of your government through the votes that you are the teller for are making it harder for young teachers to stay in Ireland.
You can’t keep punishing the young people of Ireland and expect us and our families to vote to keep your Government in power.