Way paved for unions to ally against cuts

The way has been paved for primary teachers to take part in a combined union movement against further cuts if they reject Croke Park II.

The ongoing ballot of the 32,000 members of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation will prove crucial to the success or failure of the overall deal, as it is one of the largest public services unions.

However, while its executive has made no recommendation on how they vote, the majority of speakers in an hour-long debate on the topic at the INTO congress were opposed to the proposals. The deal would see cuts to the pay of staff earning over €65,000, loss of payments for school supervision, but some clawback of the cuts to newer teachers’ pay in recent years.