Teachers' union urges members to approve industrial action

Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has recommended that members approve industrial action when they vote on the motion this week.

Industrial action may include strike action of up to two days, work to rule or non-co-operation/withdrawal from various initiatives.

In addition, the union has asked the ICTU to co-ordinate strike action being taken by various unions to provide the maximum effect by all workers.

"TUI acknowledges that we are in severely difficult economic times," said TUI general secretary Peter MacMenamin.

"However, any viable national solution must first involve a fair sharing of the remedy. What we are currently seeing imposed is a patently unfair and unjust targeting of the public service for further punishment.

"Our members believe their sector has been asset-stripped and filleted several times over since last summer.

"Through July and August 2008, various education programmes were cut in manner that caused particular impact on the most vulnerable in society such as the School Completion Programme.

"October’s budget saw the most savage attack on our education system in living memory. Specifically, these cuts will ultimately result in 1,000 job losses at second level and the loss of essential provisions for the most disadvantaged students, such as book grants and alternative Leaving Certificate programmes.

"Our members see the so called ‘pension levy’ salary cut as a bridge too far - unfair, unjust, unpalatable and unacceptable.

"We encourage all members to vote ‘Yes’ and in doing so give a clear mandate to TUI’s national executive committee to engage in whatever action it deems appropriate to oppose this latest attack on the education system and the terms and conditions of teachers and lecturers."