Teacher unions warn of ballot backlash

The Government has been warned of a backlash at the ballot box by 70,000 teachers and their families if pay equality is not addressed in upcoming talks.

Union leaders at all three teacher conferences warned of the consequences for Government and opposition parties who do not support their campaign on equal pay for equal work.

The same motion passed by all three unions yesterday — unanimously by two of them — means ballots for strikes or other industrial action will issued to their 65,000 to 70,000 members if talks to consider the lower pay of new entrants to the job since 2010 are not concluded within weeks.