THE THREE teacher unions, representing over 50,000 teachers, moved yesterday to oppose any pay cuts. However, the unions say they expect the Government to press ahead with a minimum 5 per cent pay cut – or a lengthy pay freeze. One senior trade unionist said he could envisage an effective pay freeze for teachers until 2011.
There has been speculation that teacher unions might be prepared to accept pay cuts or a pay freeze in return for measures which protect the education sector and target the rich.
But there was no sign of any such compromise yesterday. The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) executive, which meets today is expected to strongly oppose any proposed pay cuts. Teachers are subject to an 11-month pay pause as part of the latest national pay agreement. Under the deal, they are due to receive a 3.5 per cent pay increase in September and a further 2.5 per cent in June 2010.
But there is growing concern among teaching unions that the Government could move to impose a pay freeze. Teachers’ Union of Ireland general secretary Peter MacMenamin last night said his union will not countenance any deferral of negotiated pay rises, any worsening of pension provision or pay cuts. “The public sector was not the cause of the current crisis and cannot assume the role of ‘whipping boy’ in the recovery process,” he said.
ASTI general secretary John White said pay cuts are not an option. Irish National Teachers’ Organisation general secretary John Carr said teachers recognised the need for action to aid national recovery but warned that attempts to impose pay cuts on teachers and other public servants would be resisted by all necessary means.
