TUI will not accept cuts in pay or pensions

(19 Jan 2009)

TUI calls on public sector employers to withdraw from IBEC – Immediate end to cap on PLC courses now imperative
 
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has called on all public sector employers  agencies and bodies to immediately withdraw from membership of IBEC.
 
The 13,000 strong union believes IBEC is now bereft of credibility after recent ill-conceived and statements on the public service.
 
A meeting of the union's executive committee has re-affirmed that it will not accept cuts to the pay or pensions of the teachers and lecturers it represents as the solution to the economic situation.  The union does however believe that the National Partnership process is appropriate to seeking an overall solution in which all sectors of society play their part and make appropriate sacrifice in accordance with their ability to bear this sacrifice.

TUI General Secretary Peter MacMenamin outlined the union's position on a range of issues, highlighting that Continuing Education in Further Education Colleges and Institutes of Technology are ideally placed to upskill the workforce in the challenging times ahead.
 
Specifically, the cap on the number of students in Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses must be lifted immediately.
 
Pay/Pensions
TUI will not accept:

• Cuts in the nominal pay of teachers/lecturers or
• Changes in the nature and structure of public service pensions and their linkage to the service grade

Defence of the Public Service
TUI calls on all  publicly-funded agencies and bodies to immediately withdraw from membership of IBEC – a discredited rabble that is baying for the dismemberment of precisely those agencies and the public service they provide.  IBEC may speak for the private sector employers but it has done nothing but condemn the public sector in recent times and to regard it as the scapegoat for all the financial ills of the country.  It has remained silent about the greed that is generally endemic in the private sector and a variety of unacceptable employment practices that it is prepared to condone.
 
TUI condemns the cynical, deceitful attempt by IBEC and other free-market apologists
To scapegoat teachers and other public servants and
To deflect attention from the widespread and hugely damaging malpractice by the banks
 
IBEC's neo-liberal economic model is bankrupt – both literally and morally.
 
The current economic crisis has its roots in the greed and short-term opportunism of significant elements in the private sector. IBEC has no creditability when it demands that public servants should pay the cost of private sector failure.
 
 
Importance of Education
TUI recognises that Ireland faces grave economic challenges. Our national response must be based on a partnership approach and must be decisive, comprehensive and compassionate. Those who can best afford to do so must bear the burden.
 
Education and training is vital to economic recovery and especially to the creation of sustainable, high quality employment opportunities. Now, more than ever before, it is imperative that Government invests in education. TUI is prepared to immediately engage in

(a)    immediately identifying strategic priorities for such investment and
(b)   achieving beneficial economics and collaborations in the education/training service.

We believe that Further Education colleges and Institutes of Technology are ideally placed to meet the challenges that the unemployment will necessitate.
 
It is absolutely imperative that with the urgent need for upskilling of people who are being made redundant and put on short time work that the cap on the number of students in Post Leaving Certificate  (PLC) colleges is lifted. This sector is ideally placed to meet the commercial and industrial needs of the local community and to exhibit the flexibility necessary to provide for these potential students and to meet their needs.

Courses can be tailor-made and adapted to maximise local employment potential of participants. Continuation of the cap, imposed several years ago by the Department of Education and Science, is now counterproductive towards a move to economic recovery.
 
Tax
TUI recognises the urgent need for increasing tax revenues to maintain critical public and social services that are centred to the quality of life of all citizens. The union supports the call by ICTU for a significant increase in the higher rate income tax rates and advocates:
The introduction of a property based tax
Tax measures to support verifiable job creation
The elimination of tax shelters that facilitate speculative investment and tax-avoidance