One of Clare’s teaching union representatives claims the current public sector pay offer is no more than ‘a spit in the ocean’.
All three teaching unions across both primary and secondary level are set to ballot members on industrial action over wages.
The ASTI, INTO and now the TUI have all confirmed this week that they will ask their members to decide whether strike action is warranted.
Unions are making the move as they’re dissatisfied at an offer on public sector pay tabled by the Government earlier this summer.
A 2.5 percent pay increase was offered this year and a further 2.5 percent next year, but unions rejected the deal saying it ‘fell far short’ of inflation, which now stands at more than 9 percent.
The Government points out that the 5 percent offer is in addition to the 2 percent increase already provided for in the existing public sector pay deal.
INTO Clare representative Brendan Horan insists they’ll engage in further talks in good faith if required, but a better offer is needed.
Teaching unions are also making fresh calls for the pay of teachers who qualified after 2011 to be brought back into line with those who came into the sector before that.
A survey of the TUI’s membership earlier this year showed that 65 per cent of teachers appointed after 2011 did not get a contract of full hours upon initial appointment, which means that for several years, they only earn a fraction of a full salary.
Clare TUI representative Kate Hehir, who teaches at St Michael’s Community College in Kilmihil, says the profession is facing a shortage if salaries aren’t raised.
Each union is set to be balloted in September.
Listen back to the full interview here:
