Significant pay increases or strike - TUI

The president of the Teachers Union of Ireland has warned of all-out strike action by September if teachers do not receive significant pay increases this summer.

Speaking in Cork ahead of the union's three-day annual conference, John McGowan said if the pay increases granted under the benchmarking agreement are not up to scratch, members will be balloted and decisive action will be taken.

He said this will be a landmark year in the history of Irish education, because benchmarking will not only evaluate salaries, but will also the value placed by Irish society on teachers themselves.

If the worst comes to the worst, he said, we could see all-out strike action by the beginning of the new school year.