Primary teachers on "war footing" over pay claim

Primary school teachers are set to join secondary teachers on the picket lines if their salary claims are ignored by the Government.

The benchmarking body reports in June on claims by the INTO and TUI, with the unions expecting a pay rise of 20%.

A conference for primary principals in Galway at the weekend was told the INTO had waited three years for the review of their salaries and teachers were now being put on a "war footing".

"Our waiting ends in June," warned INTO General Secretary John Carr.

Meanwhile, the secondary teachers union, ASTI, is refusing to co-operate with the benchmarking body and remains on a collision course with the Minister for Education, Michael Woods.

Yesterday, Mr Woods assured parents groups that any action planned by the ASTI would not cause schools to close.

And this morning, it’s emerged the Minister plans to push ahead with the introduction of new courses in the Autumn, despite an ASTI vote refusing to co-operate.