TUI commits to vigorous campaign on key issues

By piofficer, Friday, 16th October 2015 | 0 comments

The Executive Committee of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) today committed itself to a vigorous campaign on a number of significant issues. TUI members emphatically rejected the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA) by a margin of 92% on a turnout of over 59%.

Speaking today, TUI President Gerry Quinn said:

‘The LRA completely fails to address critical issues that are swamping the education system.

Key to these is the atrocious plight of young teachers and lecturers who are paid from a lower pay scale and in many cases struggle in poverty as a result of low hours and insecure employment.

Up to one third of TUI members at second level (and up to half of those under 35) are in temporary/part time employment, with many experiencing income poverty as a result. To compound this inequality, new entrants to the profession since 2012 have been placed on discriminatory, differentiated pay scales. To continue to attract the best graduates to the profession, and to allow young teachers and lecturers to develop sustainable careers, we need to urgently return to a position where all appointments are on a permanent and full-time basis, as is the case in other areas of the public service. Additional measures are required to address this dire situation for the thousands of teachers currently affected.

At third level, where TUI represents members in Institutes of Technology, there has been a 34% decrease in funding for the sector since 2008. Lecturer numbers have fallen drastically by 10% at a time when student numbers have risen by 20%. This has resulted in a significantly damaged service for students who have gone through the system in recent years. At second level, teachers are frustrated and disillusioned by the increasing bureaucratic and administrative workload that deflects them away from teaching and learning.

At its meeting today, the Executive Committee committed itself to a campaign of action to address such issues in the coming weeks and months. As part of this it was agreed in principle to have appropriate ballots for industrial action, up to and including strike action. Such industrial action would be used if no progress was otherwise made on our grievances.

TUI is party to the Haddington Road Agreement, our members are meeting their commitments and we expect the Government to honour its commitments in this regard.

The punitive measures contained in the new Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Bill are unfair, heavy-handed and hugely disproportionate in reacting to the specific concerns of educationalists.’

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