Teachers’ pay policy reversal is justified

THE decision to end pay inequity among teachers is to be welcomed. 

The two-tier scheme is a legacy issue from our economic implosion and must be addressed. The deal announced yesterday reverses an emergency necessity that meant recruits were expected to do the same work as their older colleagues but for lower pay. This hardly made a classroom career as attractive as it should be.

This reversal means that the principle will, in time, be applied right across the public sector. It may mean however that those enjoying the higher rates today may have to wait until parity prevails before they get any new pay rises — a sacrifice established public employees will undoubtedly accept in the name of equity.