Young teachers forced to wait as pay issues addressed
The problem mainly affects teachers first appointed in 2011, who were entitled under the 2013 Haddington Road Agreement to increased salary scales and allowances, which had been subject to a review instigated by the previous government.
Teachers appointed after February 1, 2012, do not qualify for the higher or part-time pay rates but are due increased allowances if they work in prisons, secure units or with the visiting teacher service for pupils with hearing and visual impairment.
Last July, the department issued a letter setting out the various changes, which are to be backdated to November 2013. But it has yet to apply them to the affected teachers’ pay, leaving unknown numbers on less than wht they should be earning.
Officials are first trying to sort out software problems that have meant as many as half of the country’s 65,000 teachers, including many of those affected by the salary and allowance changes, are owed hundreds of euro in backpay already.
As reported by the Irish Examiner this week, the department is hoping, by February 19, to have paid the increments and arrears that should have been paid since last month to teachers moving up the salary scale.
Some teachers who started working in the past three years have been left short almost €200 since last month while the payroll software is being adjusted to reflect the changes.
Both issues were raised with the department by unions again this week at the Teaching Conciliation Council.
The Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) said it is continuing to demand a date for the payment of monies due to 2011 entrants whose pay scale was upgraded as a result of the unions’ campaign.
“The Government expects us to honour agreements we sign up to and we also expect the Government to honour their side and pay these new entrant teachers what is owed as soon as possible,” said ASTI deputy general secretary Diarmaid de Paor.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
