The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has reiterated that pay parity remains its highest priority. The union is demanding a timeframe for parity as a matter of urgency as its campaign continues.
In September, a breakthrough was reached that will incorporate the Primary Degree allowance into the pay of new and recent entrants to the profession. Last week, the union brought its case on the restoration of the HDip allowance to the appropriate forum – the Teachers’ Conciliation Council.
The union has also described as ‘an unambiguous requirement’ that the Public Service Pay Commission address the inequity of the differential pay rates that apply to those who entered the public service after 1st January 2011.
On Thursday (October 27th), TUI members will join INTO members in a rally outside the Dáil demanding equal pay for equal work.
Speaking today, TUI President Joanne Irwin said:
‘At its meeting on Friday, the TUI’s Executive Committee reiterated its commitment to the achievement of pay parity as the union’s highest priority. A clear timeframe for parity is required as a matter of urgency.
The Executive Committee notes the very significant advances that have been secured in the ongoing negotiations between the TUI/INTO and government on this issue. These include incorporation of the Primary Degree allowance into scale, confirmation that 95% of teaching jobs may be filled on a permanent basis and the implementation of a mandatory sequence for the filling of new hours/posts so that they are made available, in the first instance, to existing part time teachers. These are hugely important steps towards the elimination of casualisation and the destination full pay parity, but there is more to be done. The next step required is full equalisation of pay between teachers recruited in 2011 and those recruited on or after 1 Feb 2012. This requires restoration of the HDip allowance and the TUI has brought this issue to the appropriate forum – the Teachers’ Conciliation Council. We have a compelling case.
Regarding the Public Service Pay Commission, the unambiguous requirement and expectation of the TUI is that it will, in the first instance, as a matter of urgency address the inequity of the differential pay rates that apply to those who entered the public service on or after 1 January 2011. Their work is as valuable as that of their colleagues who entered before that date and it must be valued equally in pay terms. Continuation of the discrimination against those appointed since 2011 is wrong and unconscionable.
TUI has a clear mandate in this regard. Our members balloted for action in January 2016, took action at third level in February and used our mandate to secure the intensive negotiations that are ongoing and that have yielded very important improvements for our members across a range of issues and sectors. It is now time for government to bring the process of full pay parity to conclusion. While the TUI remains committed to securing a negotiated resolution of the issue of pay parity, our mandate is live and will be used if resolution is unfairly delayed or frustrated.’