Second-level teachers vote to strike over ‘income poverty’

Secondary school teachers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a one-day strike before the general election, over what their union describes as the “precarious employment status and income poverty” of its members.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland said its members, second-level and further/adult education teachers and lecturers, will press ahead with the strike unless the demand for “meaningful” talks is met.

TUI has raised issues such as income poverty/casualisation and says new and recent entrants are being placed on a payscale which sees their starting pay reduced by 21.7% compared to those appointed prior to 2011.