Menu
24/08/2016
TUI Warns Of Industrial Action Amid 'Deep Frustration' Over Allowance Talks
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has warned that it may be forced to activate an existing mandate for industrial action should "urgent and meaningful progress" not be made in a dispute over allowances for new and recent teachers.
The union expressed its "deep frustration" over the delay of the government to commit to a timeframe for the restoration of allowances.
A series of meetings between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Department of Education and Skills, INTO representatives have been described as "unacceptably slow" by the TUI.
TUI President Joanne Irwin said: "From February 2012, as a result of a unilateral government decision, qualification allowances were removed from new entrants to teaching. This amounted to a pay cut of approximately 20%, compared to their colleagues. The TUI has since then been campaigning to have this gross inequality eliminated.
"Firefighters, who also lost their allowance, have had the value of that allowance restored, in the context of agreement to enhance delivery of the service they provide. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), the Minister for Education and Skills (DES) and the union have highlighted the agreement reached by Firefighters as a precedent available within the LRA. The Ministers have stated publicly that similar progress can be made for teachers within the context of the LRA.
"TUI reached an agreement with the DES in relation to a range of issues in May 2016. A key understanding underpinning this agreement was that the scandal of pay inequality could and would be addressed as a matter of urgency.
"What is now needed is a clear timescale for implementation. Further delay in this respect is both unfair and unnecessary.
Another cohort of teachers will commence their careers in the coming days, on significantly lower pay than their colleagues. It is time to demonstrate that these teachers are properly valued. It is time to end the discrimination that is undermining the morale of the profession.
"It is self-evident that impoverishing teachers inevitably leads to the impoverishment of the service to students. Graduates and, increasingly, qualified teachers across a range of subjects, are now routinely finding better paid and more secure employment in industry."
(MH/CD)
The union expressed its "deep frustration" over the delay of the government to commit to a timeframe for the restoration of allowances.
A series of meetings between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Department of Education and Skills, INTO representatives have been described as "unacceptably slow" by the TUI.
TUI President Joanne Irwin said: "From February 2012, as a result of a unilateral government decision, qualification allowances were removed from new entrants to teaching. This amounted to a pay cut of approximately 20%, compared to their colleagues. The TUI has since then been campaigning to have this gross inequality eliminated.
"Firefighters, who also lost their allowance, have had the value of that allowance restored, in the context of agreement to enhance delivery of the service they provide. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), the Minister for Education and Skills (DES) and the union have highlighted the agreement reached by Firefighters as a precedent available within the LRA. The Ministers have stated publicly that similar progress can be made for teachers within the context of the LRA.
"TUI reached an agreement with the DES in relation to a range of issues in May 2016. A key understanding underpinning this agreement was that the scandal of pay inequality could and would be addressed as a matter of urgency.
"What is now needed is a clear timescale for implementation. Further delay in this respect is both unfair and unnecessary.
Another cohort of teachers will commence their careers in the coming days, on significantly lower pay than their colleagues. It is time to demonstrate that these teachers are properly valued. It is time to end the discrimination that is undermining the morale of the profession.
"It is self-evident that impoverishing teachers inevitably leads to the impoverishment of the service to students. Graduates and, increasingly, qualified teachers across a range of subjects, are now routinely finding better paid and more secure employment in industry."
(MH/CD)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
08 November 2016
17,500 Teachers Take Second Day Of Strike Action In Pay Dispute
Up to 17,500 teachers are due to take part if a second one-day strike as part of an ongoing pay dispute. The industrial action is part of the ASTI campaign calling for Equal Pay for Equal Work. The union is demanding the restoration of the common basic pay scale for all teachers.
17,500 Teachers Take Second Day Of Strike Action In Pay Dispute
Up to 17,500 teachers are due to take part if a second one-day strike as part of an ongoing pay dispute. The industrial action is part of the ASTI campaign calling for Equal Pay for Equal Work. The union is demanding the restoration of the common basic pay scale for all teachers.
13 March 2024
Translink Workers Reject Pay Offer
Translink NI workers have rejected a pay offer from the public transport company. Unite, GMB and SIPTU confirmed that their members has "decisively voted to reject as inadequate" a pay offer made by Translink management. Workers were offered a 5% pay increase and a non-consolidated one-off payment of £1,500 for the 2023-2024 financial year.
Translink Workers Reject Pay Offer
Translink NI workers have rejected a pay offer from the public transport company. Unite, GMB and SIPTU confirmed that their members has "decisively voted to reject as inadequate" a pay offer made by Translink management. Workers were offered a 5% pay increase and a non-consolidated one-off payment of £1,500 for the 2023-2024 financial year.
16 October 2015
TUI 'Emphatically' Reject Landsdowne Road Agreement
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has "emphatically" rejected the proposed Landsdowne Road Agreement by a margin of 92%. TUI President Gerry Quinn said that the ballot represents an "unequivocal rejection" of the proposed agreement and that a number of key concerns of its member had not been addressed.
TUI 'Emphatically' Reject Landsdowne Road Agreement
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has "emphatically" rejected the proposed Landsdowne Road Agreement by a margin of 92%. TUI President Gerry Quinn said that the ballot represents an "unequivocal rejection" of the proposed agreement and that a number of key concerns of its member had not been addressed.
05 September 2013
Second-Level Teachers Balloted Over Haddington Road
Some 30,000 second-level school teachers are to be balloted over the proposed Haddington Road agreement, previously accepted by primary teachers union INTO and others.
Second-Level Teachers Balloted Over Haddington Road
Some 30,000 second-level school teachers are to be balloted over the proposed Haddington Road agreement, previously accepted by primary teachers union INTO and others.
23 April 2014
Junior Cycle Reforms Will Not Be Deferred - Quinn
There are no plans to defer the implementation of reforms to the Junior Cycle programme, despite opposition to the move by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI).
Junior Cycle Reforms Will Not Be Deferred - Quinn
There are no plans to defer the implementation of reforms to the Junior Cycle programme, despite opposition to the move by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI).
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers gradually die out to leave good clear spells in the evening and overnight. This will allow a few fog patches to develop in places. A cold night with some ground frost. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
