TUI ‘ruling nothing out’ in response to new levy  - Union seeks urgent Public Services Committee meeting

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) today said it is ‘ruling nothing out’ in terms of its response to the so-called pension levy imposed by Taoiseach Brian Cowan yesterday. The union has been inundated with calls and e-mails from members furious at yesterday’s announcement.

The union’s executive committee meets on Friday and union President Don Ryan has said they will be taking members’ views on-board in formulating a response.

TUI intends to seek an early meeting of the Public Services Committee of the ICTU with a view to considering an extensive programme of action in opposition to the continued scapegoating of the public service and of the continuing cushioning of wealthy private sector employers, bankers and developers.  TUI has had enough of the dumping on workers, in particular the public sector while the wealthy continue to be protected.

Speaking today, TUI President Don Ryan said:

“We have received phone calls and e-mails from a large number of TUI members outraged by this latest imposition. The vast majority of these teachers and lecturers earn less than the expenses claimed by our government politicians.

We are seeking an early meeting of the Public Services Committee of the ICTU with a view to considering a an extensive programme of action in opposition to the continued scapegoating of the public service

We are particularly appalled by the campaign of misinformation by Government. A myth has been spread that teachers, as public service workers, make no contribution to their pension entitlement.

This assumption is completely false.

Teachers and other public sector workers already pay 6.5% pension contribution and are now being asked to pay an additional levy of up to 8.5%.  It has been said that this goes to the pension and that the teacher will get it back.  This is not true – this is a levy on pay whether pensionable or not.

For example, a teacher earning €50,000 already pays €3,250 in pension contributions. Under the new measures, they would pay an additional €3,750. The total will now be 14% of their salary.

We are particularly disgusted that the lower/middle range paid have not been spared from this treatment. 

There is genuine anger among teachers and lecturers that they have been targeted yet again by a government that has lost all perception of reality.

1,000 jobs at second level are already at risk due to budget cutbacks, over 400 in the VEC sector alone, and many vital aspects of the education system – particularly those that tackle disadvantage - have been decimated.

Public sector workers are not responsible for the current state of the economy. This is the sole responsibility of greedy builders and bankers ably assisted by government, IBEC and others. They have got us into this mess and must not be allowed to wriggle out of this responsibility by placing the blame on others.

Public service workers alone are not going to accept levies that are effectively pay cuts in order to accommodate a situation brought about by the ineptitude and greed of others.

This pain must be shared by everyone - especially those who can afford it and those who benefited most from the boom years.

Capital taxation, taxation of property other than primary residences, wealth tax, targeting of tax evaders and tax exiles are some of the means that must be used by government to resolve the financial crisis that is of their own making."