Teaching unions to mull fresh offer

The proposed deal with teacher unions gives some concessions on what they rejected, but it is unclear if they are enough to assuage anger about a range of cuts and extra work required.

The executives of all four teacher unions meet between today and Friday and are expected to put the packages to ballot. All four unions strongly rejected the previous proposals from the Labour Relations Commission, and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, Teachers’ Union of Ireland, and Irish National Teachers’ Organisation have received strong backing from ballots for industrial action up to strike if pay cuts or work practice changes are imposed without agreement.

Some of the biggest sticking points before the unions met the LRC on Monday were cuts to the pay of those earning over €65,000, but some concessions had already been granted through the LRC discussions with other unions last week.