of last week’s negotiations off agenda - TUI
(08 Dec 2009)
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has responded to comments attributed to Minister Batt O’Keeffe that elements of a deal related to public service reform almost agreed last week could form the basis for talks next year.
Speaking today, TUI General Secretary Peter MacMenamin said:
“Elements of a possible agreement last week were only on the table as part of a wider deal that did not involve the imposition of direct pay cuts for teachers and lecturers.
At no stage was a final position agreed by anybody. It was part of a proposal which was to form a possible alternative to a direct pay cut to teachers. In order to be agreed it would have to have been put to TUI’s 15,000 members by way of a ballot and only if agreed by the members would it have had any validity.
Now that the deal has been withdrawn by Minister O’Keeffe’s government and the strong likelihood of a direct pay cut in the budget remains, all bets are off. Such issues will no longer be considered by the TUI while this situation remains.
The Minister cannot have it both ways. If he wants this form of transformation there is a cost. These elements formed part of a negotiation process which the government side reneged upon. They cannot and will not be revisited while the present impasse continues. The union’s executive committee has met and its position is unequivocal.
We will further assess the current situation after the budget. The union’s executive committee meets again on Friday.”