Teachers to ballot on industrial action

More than 60,000 teachers are to be balloted for industrial action.

The ASTI, TUI and INTO are asking thousands of teachers around the country to vote for action up to and including strike action.

The INTO has 30,000 members, the ASTI has 18,000 and the TUI has 14,000.

The unions are opposing the Government's pension levy, which they feel is inequitable.

"We will be balloting for industrial action and it is also imperative that all TUI members lobby their local public representatives on this issue in the coming days as a matter of urgency," said TUI president Don Ryan.

"We will ballot our members on industrial action next week.

"Our education service has been absolutely decimated by cutbacks in recent months and now a pay cut is to be imposed in a most unjust and unfair manner.

"Union branch meetings have been packed to the rafters with members furious with the Government’s flawed scapegoating of the public service. TUI’s head office has been bombarded with e-mails, calls and letters from members outraged by the imposition.

"Our members are prepared to take their fair share of the burden, but only if all others who can afford to pay are seen to do likewise.

"Specifically, teachers believe they are being directly punished for the catastrophic mistakes of bankers and developers. Many of these banking executives continue to take home salaries several times those of even the highest paid public service workers.

"Our members will also be taking part in the mass national demonstration in Dublin on Saturday February 21."