The Executive Committee of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has decided to recommend that members reject the new pay agreement proposals.
A ballot of TUI members will take place in the autumn.
Speaking today, TUI President Gerry Quinn said that the failure of the proposals to allay a number of significant concerns was strongly expressed in an Executive Committee meeting that took place yesterday evening.
‘Research has demonstrated that our members in institutes of technology are experiencing high levels of work related stress as a result of the additional ‘flex’ hours given for the duration of the Haddington Road Agreement,’ he said. ‘The delivery of these two hours of lecturing requires a multiple of hours in terms of preparation and associated work. This imposition is disproportionate, unfair and unsustainable. It is completely unacceptable to lecturers that it would continue as part of the new proposals.’
‘At second level, teachers are frustrated and disillusioned by the extra hours of bureaucracy and administration required under the Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements,’ he said. ‘Again, it is completely unacceptable that they would form part of any future agreement.’