Teaching union pledges to fight cuts

HALF-DAY strikes andthe cancellation of parent-teacher meetings are on the cards for thousands of secondary school students after teachers promised a strong and sustainedcampaign against wage cuts announced in the budget.

As 360,000 public sector workers, including teachers, face wage cuts of 5% to 15%, it emerged that staff at State-owned Bord Gais are to get a pay rise of 3.5%.

John White, general secretary of the secondary teachers’ union, the ASTI, said last night the Government will have to “live with the consequences” of not valuing workers delivering services to the public.