New TUI President: Pay parity for new teachers is key priority

By piofficer, Friday, 29th July 2016 | 0 comments

New Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) President Joanne Irwin has identified income parity for new teachers and lecturers as the key priority of her term of office. Other critical issues on the union’s immediate agenda include the underfunding crisis in Institutes of Technology and insecure employment conditions of those working in the further and adult education sectors.

TUI and INTO representatives have already held meetings with officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and Department of Education and Skills to scope out the issues around pay inequality with further engagement scheduled for the coming weeks.

Ms Irwin is a second level teacher of Business and ICT in Donegal ETB and has served as Vice-President of the Union since 2014. She has taught in second level mainstream, adult education, BTEI, VTOS, community education and further education, Youthreach and at third level.

Speaking today, TUI President Joanne Irwin said:

‘As TUI President, I will prioritise the campaign for income parity for new and recent entrants to the teaching profession and further highlight the precarious employment status of many teachers and lecturers. We cannot allow a situation where reduced pay and low hour contracts result in the teaching profession becoming increasingly less attractive to the country’s best graduates, when they can earn considerably more in industry and enjoy full hours, better job security and promotional prospects from the start of their career.’

‘The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has acknowledged TUI’s role in highlighting the injustice of pay inequality and has committed to prioritising this issue for resolution within the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA), which TUI members are now covered by as a result of the decision taken in May’s national ballot. In this regard, the recent decision to restore the value of their allowance to Firefighters, within the LRA, is a very important precedent that we can exploit. Along with the INTO, we have already met with representatives from the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and further engagement will take place in the coming weeks.’

‘Another critical issue is the funding crisis in Institutes of Technology. Funding for the sector fell by €190m (35%) between 2008 and 2015. Over the same period, student numbers rose dramatically by 21,411 (32%) while 535 (9.5%) lecturing positions were lost. As a direct result of several years of these budgetary cuts, today’s students experience larger class sizes and less access to laboratories, equipment, materials, libraries and tutorials. This is completely unacceptable.’

‘Meanwhile, there is much work to be done in securing appropriate contracts and terms and conditions for those working in the further and adult education sectors.’

‘Above all, I will endeavour to have education prioritised by Government as the key driver of our economy.’

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