Former TUI president claims young teachers forced to work second jobs

Young teachers are being forced to take up second jobs at night because cuts to their school hours mean they are not paid enough to survive.

The claim came from a past president of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland during a heated discussion on the need to tackle pay levels that have been repeatedly slashed and the “casualisation” of hours in the sector.

Speaking on the first day of the union’s AGM in Kilkenny City, past president Bernie Ruane insisted Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has an obligation to address payrates for newly graduated teachers.