Threat of financial penalities for teachers refusing to work extra hours

Secondary school teachers who are refusing to work an extra 33 non teaching hours a year are being warned they are facing financial penalties.

The Department of Education has written to the ASTI saying that unless they co-operate with the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement, including working additional hours, a freeze on pay increments would be brought in from July 1.

These include non-payment for supervision and substitution duties from September and loss of protection against compulsory redundancies.

Temporary teachers could also be hit, as the department has warned the ASTI that an agreement whereby they'd be considered for permanent positions after two years rather than four may be affected.

Supervision and substitution fees which were due to be restored in September will also not be paid.

The executive of the ASTI is due to meet on Monday to discuss the issue.