TUI: Budget a declaration of war on public service

The Teachers Union of Ireland has said that the Government is "hell-bent on demoralising State workers" after today's Budget.

The TUI, which represents 15,000 members in second-level schools, further education colleges and Institutes of Technology said it is "outraged" will assess the situation at an executive committee meeting on Friday.

TUI General Secretary Peter MacMenamin said: "The Government appears hell-bent on demoralising state workers by way of a thousand cuts while ignoring glaringly obvious alternatives such as progressive taxation models.

"Teachers and lecturers will have suffered a salary reduction of close to 20% when cuts over the last year are taken into consideration, simply because they are public servants."

"This government has effectively declared war on the public service by reneging on discussions to find a workable solution as an alternative to cuts in salary and is now unilaterally imposing a second pay cut in less than a year.”

They described the third-level funding cut as "retrogressive and savage".

MacMenamin said: "The 4% cut at third level is a retrogressive and savage blow to the sector at a time when it is under unprecedented strain with rising student numbers and increased demand from the newly unemployed looking to reskill. Meanwhile, the reduction in the student grant will only serve to act as a further disincentive to those seeking access to third level.”

He also said that part time and non-permanent teachers will be "worst hit".

"“There is a false assumption that every teacher is permanent, on full hours and relatively insulated from the current recession. Just 73% of second level teachers are in permanent employment compared with the OECD average of 85%.

"Today’s cut will have a devastating impact on those teachers and lecturers on part time hours, already struggling to make ends meet."