TUI: No strike before summer exams

A union representing secondary school teachers has ruled out industrial action before this year's exams.

Delegates at the TUI annual congress in Ennis, Co Clare will debate the public service deal this afternoon and are expected to emphatically reject it.

This morning they heard General Secretary Peter McMenamin in his opening address say that bank bailouts mean the Government has squandered the nation's resources for generations to come.

"Why is it that this Government will allow the three or four senior executives of one bank to escape their responsibilities leaving behind their personal debts running to over €100m to be picked up be the taxpayer?" Mr McMenamin asked, "while the books for schoolchildren are withdrawn and the pay of TUI members is cut to the bone and beyond.”

The TUI is promising a "vigorous" campaign against the deal thrashed out between Congress and the Government at Croke Park, including a ballot of members.

Mr McMenamin said the union won't rule out further strikes, but they are not necessarily imminent.

"I can effectively rule out any danger of strikes before the summer," he said.

"But once we go into the next academic year I don't think there is anything that can be ruled out."

The Minister for Education Mary Coughlan will address TUI delegates tomorrow, by which time the union should have set themselves on a collision course over pay cuts.

TUI president Don Ryan expects another frosty reception for the Tánaiste.

"I would hope there will be some positive vibes from the Minister tomorrow," Mr Ryan said.

"In relation to pay and conditions, clearly there is a polarization there."

And while the TUI says it would prefer to fight alongside other unions, they say that if necessary, they will go it alone.