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The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) executive committee has unanimously decided to recommend the rejection of the new public service agreement because of what the union calls its “failure” to end pay discrimination.
In a statement, TUI said it welcomed the fact that the agreement – “Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021-2022” – provided for general salary increases, the first for public servants in more than ten years.
He said he also recognized the serious financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic to so many workers.
However, the union said that ten years after imposing salary cuts for new entrants, it could not recommend acceptance of proposals that would continue to result in colleagues receiving lower wages for doing identical work.
More than 19,000 TUI members will vote on the deal in the new year.
President Martin Marjoram said: “We are just weeks away from the 10th anniversary of the unilateral imposition of salary cuts for new entrants, but despite progress, their corrosive effects continue to damage the education system.
“Unfortunately, the limited measures contained in this proposed settlement will not end the ongoing scandal of pay discrimination for second-level teachers employed as of January 1, 2011 and the proposed settlement does not address it at all for the other grades of recruitment in which TUI represents members “.
Mr. Marjoram said there had been “a teacher hiring and retention crisis at the second level for many years” as a result of pay discrimination.
He pointed to a survey conducted in more than 130 second-tier schools earlier this year that showed that during the previous 12 months, 97% of schools had experienced difficulties in recruiting teachers, while 77% had advertised positions for the ones that no one applied for.
TUI members went on strike earlier this year over the issue.
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Mr. Marjoram said: “Even with this proposed settlement, the greatest pay discrimination would occur in the first few years of employment.
“New entrants to second-level education would still earn € 6,500 or 15% less at the time of appointment than someone who entered the profession before 2011. The loss of professional income would still be more than € 80,000.”
He said the agreement “does nothing to repair ongoing wage discrimination” in new entry grades, including assistant teacher, Youthreach representative, BTEI adult educator, adult guidance counselor / coordinator, organizer adult literacy training and community education facilitator.
Marjoram said that many new entrants “are voting with their feet and leaving the profession.”
Earlier, the central executive committee of the National Organization of Teachers of Ireland decided to recommend that its 42,000 members accept the agreement proposals.
They are also ready to vote on the deal in the new year.
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