TUI: ESRI pay cut recommendation 'ludicrous'

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has said that public sector pay and conditions cannot be used as a punching bag as the country works towards economic recovery.

Responding to an ESRI report that recommends public sector pay cuts, the TUI said that the public sector has already been completely asset stripped over the last 12 months and described any further pay cuts as 'unacceptable'.

TUI Deputy General Secretary Annette Dolan said: "Teachers and lecturers have already been denied pay increases for which they gave productivity in return. They have already suffered considerable pay cuts in the form of the unilateral pension levy across the public service, and promotion opportunities have been frozen with the moratorium on public service appointments.

"Due to the cut in the pupil teacher ratio and various other swingeing cutbacks, the hours of thousands of part-time teachers and lecturers have been cut so severely that they are struggling to pay their bills.

"Hundreds of other part-time teachers have been let go and now have little option but to sign on the Live Register.

She said the only hope of many newly qualified teachers is to emigrate.

"It is ludicrous and unacceptable to suggest that conditions of service of teachers and lecturers and the education service offered to our children can afford to be asset stripped again," she said.

"The Government and its various think tanks are still reluctant to move towards a progressive taxation system that would ensure equity for all.

She said the TUI is in agreement with ESRI that "cutbacks in the sector could hinder the academic progress of immigrants and work against their social integration".

"Unless we invest in supporting intercultural education in our schools and colleges we will be faced with an alarming increase in racism, in neighbourhoods throughout this country.”