Primary teachers to be balloted on industrial action if talks fail

PRIMARY teachers will be balloted for industrial action if partnership talks break down, their union leader told a conference for principals yesterday.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation is in discussions with the Department of Education in an effort to avoid further cuts to education staffing and services. General secretary John Carr warned that comments by Taoiseach Brian Cowen this week that the 2010 budget might be used to impose further pay cuts on public servants has all-but brought the curtain down on partnership.