Education Minister must produce roadmap to pay equality for teachers
Reacting to the decision of secondary school teachers in the TUI to take industrial action over pay inequality, Labour Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on the Government to act on their promises on pay inequality.
Senator Ó Ríordáin said:
“I am calling on the Minister to proactively re-engage with the unions to find a new deal for teachers.
“Clearly issue of pay equality remains a vital point of principle for Irish teachers. Teacher unions, especially at second level, are losing faith that Fine Gael and their friends in the Independent Alliance are serious about rectifying this injustice.
“The Labour Party wants all work in our schools, from secretaries to SNAs and teachers to be treated with respect in relation to their terms, conditions and pay.
“Ending pay inequality will keep young teachers at home here in Ireland, rather than have them leave our shores in droves in the pursuit of better pay and conditions.
“We keep hearing soothing words from Fine Gael that pay inequality might be ended at some point, yet we are seeing no concrete and workable proposals on how this will be materialised.
“This does nothing to give young teachers hope and confidence in the system and will not encourage them to stay here.
“Time and time again, I have called for the government to produce a roadmap to pay equality but knowing how inept Fine Gael are when it comes to dealing with public sector unions it may be a while before we see any movement on this.
“The Minister for Education needs to show leadership and engage with unions immediately, in order to prevent industrial action.”