The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) have announced that their members will take strike action on Tuesday 4th February over the ongoing pay discrimination in second level. The TUI have decided to take this strike action after a long fought campaign to end the two-tier pay scales that were introduced during austerity cuts.
The TUI represents 19,000 members in second level schools, colleges of further and adult education and Institutes of Technology/Technological Universities. As a result, there will be pickets outside of all TU Dublin locations. Students have been notified by email that there will be disruption to classes for the 24hr period, but buildings and services will be open as normal.
The issue at the core of this strike action is that teachers employed after 1st January 2011 will still earn some €110,000 less than longer-serving colleagues over the course of a career. The TUI had made several demands to the Government to end this pay discrimination but promises were broken which has led to this strike action being called so close to the General Election.Pierre Yimbog, President, speaking on this says;
It should be a fundamental right that everyone gets paid fairly, and this also goes for teachers. We can’t continue to accept and live in a society where pay discrimination is still a problem and the Government are refusing to address an issue that is being put in front of them.
The Students’ Union stands in solidarity with the TUI as officers will not be crossing the picket line at any TU Dublin location. We also urge students not to cross the picket to show support and stand against pay discrimination. An attack on one area of education affects us all, and we should stand with our colleagues to end this practice.
