The Executive Committee of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) this evening unanimously decided to recommend rejection of the draft Public Service Stability Agreement.
Speaking after the meeting, TUI President Joanne Irwin said that it would be unconscionable for the union to recommend acceptance of an agreement that effectively copper-fastened a system of pay inequality for its duration.
The union described the draft document’s failure to properly address the discriminatory, inequitable two-tier pay system as completely unacceptable and said that the process of pay equalisation requires acceleration rather than further delay.
TUI’s over 17,000 members will be balloted on the draft agreement in September.
‘We acknowledge the pay restoration elements in the proposed document,' TUI President Joanne Irwin said.
‘However, an unwinding of the unacceptable, unfair and inequitable two-tier pay system was the key priority for TUI on entering the recent negotiations. Wherever and whenever possible, we vigorously pushed the issue forward.'
‘It remains completely unacceptable to us that two colleagues, recruited within days of one another, are paid significantly different rates for carrying out the same work. TUI has prioritised and campaigned on this issue and some progress has been made.’
‘The draft proposed agreement would have the effect of blocking further progress for at least three years. At a time when schools are struggling to attract teachers for an increasing number of subjects due to more lucrative options in other employments, the process of full pay equalisation requires urgent acceleration, not delay.’
‘Regrettably, the draft agreement’s provision that new entrant pay be examined over a twelve month period in 2018, with application of any outcome no sooner than 2021 is wholly inadequate.’
‘The union’s members will be balloted on the proposed agreement in September, and the Executive Committee will be strongly advocating that they reject it.’