TUI set to ballot on industrial action

THE Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) is to ballot its 15,500 members on whether they should end industrial action so they can enter talks on the Croke Park public service reform agreement.

The union’s executive decided on the vote after signals in recent days that members could face pay cuts and possible redundancy in some colleges if they are not signed up to the reforms being negotiated by other unions, including some which also rejected the deal earlier this year.

A recent TUI delegate conference agreed the union could discuss the issues with Department of Education officials, but they were refused talks because of its ongoing industrial action. The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) lifted similar action in schools last month and has met the department on reforms that would include an additional hour a week of non-teaching duties and a review of teacher contracts.