Vote for action if pay and conditions cut further

A TRADE union of second and third level teachers’ voted for immediate industrial action in the event of further cuts to teachers’ pay and conditions.

The TUI conference also heard a vehement attack on the union’s leadership — and on the wider trade union movement leadership — for an alleged inability to negotiate the Croke Park Agreement.

The 420 delegates representing members in second-level schools, colleges of further education and institutes of technology, engaged in a lengthy, impassioned debate on pay and pensions.

Several motions were passed unanimously, including a Co Dublin motion instructing the union’s executive to take “immediate and sustained industrial action” if the Government imposes further cuts.

Dublin delegate Mary Ryan, proposing, said they were not advocating strike action because that is what would hurt teachers the most, but a work to rule under which tutors would do just exactly what they were paid to do and nothing else.

She said many older teachers were leaving the profession because they were afraid of what was coming down the line, while younger teachers were enduring salaries and conditions their older colleagues would not have dreamt of in their worst nightmares.

Finbar Geaney, Dublin City, claimed the Croke Park Agreement was part of the IMF’s cuts programme, which the trade union leadership was asking its members to accept.

He attacked the “foolishness and incompetence” of the union leadership for accepting such a deal and said they were unable to negotiate for their members.

“The only way to stop this Government in its tracks is to call for industrial action. We must involve the entire congress of trade unions (ICTU), not just the TUI,” Mr Geaney urged.

A number of delegates angrily stated teaching had become a two-tier profession, with younger “yellow pack” teachers working for vastly inferior pay and conditions.

Mary Higgins, moving a Co Laois motion condemning a 10% pay cut and a different pension scheme for new teachers, said some were working only six to seven hours per week.

They were taking home around €300 per week which was “absolutely appalling,” she said.

Delegates also passed a motion from the executive condemning an “unjust and unprecedented” attack on the pension scheme.

TUI vice-president Denis Magner said a 16% salary reduction and a significantly inferior pension scheme for new teachers would result in a two-tier system, with teachers being paid different rates for the same work.

TUI executive committee member Michael Gillespie attacked media reports about teachers having a “golden” pension pot. He said the average teacher spent €700 per month on their pension.

He said all the union wanted was that teachers would have enough to live on when they retired and that the same pension scheme would be available to younger teachers.

The executive’s motion, with an amendment from the Carlow IT branch that strike action be taken on the pensions issue for younger teachers, if necessary, was carried with acclamation.