Outcome of Department of Education and Skills, INTO and TUI discussions – 29 November 2016

By TUI, Wednesday, 30th November 2016 | 0 comments

Following an invitation issued on 8th November by the Chair of the Teachers’ Conciliation Council (TCC) to ASTI, INTO, TUI, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, TUI engaged with the other parties in discussions on a range of issues in recent weeks.

As a result of these discussions, a document  - ‘Outcome of Department of Education and Skills, INTO and TUI discussions – 29 November 2016’ - has been agreed. It should be read in conjunction with:

  • The TUI/INTO ‘New Entrant Pay Issue and Related Commitments, 16 Sept 2016’, which provides significant improvements in the pay of those who entered the profession on or after 1st February 2012
     
  • ‘DES/TUI Agreement, May 2016’, which provides a range of other gains for teachers and lecturers, including a review of the usage of the ‘Croke Park’ hours and a review of posts of responsibility/management structures
     
  • Circular Letter 59/2016, which sets out a mandatory sequence for the filling of new posts/hours that will benefit serving teachers on part-time hours. This circular letter was negotiated by the TUI with the Department of Education and Skills and has effect from 31st August last.

 

The document that issued on the 29th November (‘Outcome of Department of Education and Skills, INTO and TUI discussions – 29 November 2016’) recognises these gains and addresses other issues that had been brought by the teacher unions to the TCC, including:

  • The provision of an opt-out and opt-in on a once-off basis for the Supervision and Substitution scheme
  • Further measures that have the potential of improving job security and
  • An enhanced focus on the issue of teacher wellbeing

A separate document – Outcome of Department of Education and Skills and ASTI discussions – 29 November 2016 has also issued for consideration by ASTI. That document offers to members of ASTI the provisions of the DES/TUI Agreement, May 2016 and TUI/INTO New Entrant Pay Issue and Related Commitments, 16 September 2016 documents, as well as the provisions set out in the bullet points immediately above.

In a separate document, Junior Cycle – Statement of Assurances 29 November 2016 – DES & ASTI, assurances that are offered to ASTI are in line with assurances provided in direct discussion with the TUI and at the regular meetings of the Implementation Committee established under the Junior Cycle agreements.

These two documents, taken together, represent the outcome of discussions for consideration by ASTI.

 

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Speaking today, TUI President Joanne Irwin said:

‘TUI’s commitment to securing full pay parity remains the union’s key priority. In this regard, the Union has lodged a claim at the Teachers’ Conciliation Council for payment of the H Dip Allowance to all who entered teaching on or after 1st February 2012.’

‘Arising from the agreed document of 16th September, we are also insisting that the issue of equalising the pay of those appointed on or after 1st January 2011 be prioritised by the Public Service Pay Commission and addressed in any talks on public pay that may commence in the coming months.’

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