OVER 500 SECONDARY schools are closed today as teachers take to the picket lines in industrial action over pay.

Teachers from the ASTI union begin their strike action today on the issue of pay scales for teachers who qualified after 2011.

Seven days of strike action have been announced by teachers between today and 7 December, unless progress is made on talks between now and then.

But it’s not the only strike action looming large for the Government to deal with in the coming days and weeks.

Gardaí of multiple grades recently took the unprecedented step of announcing strike action in disputes over pay.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) – which represents rank-and-file gardaí – announced that its members would be striking for four days next month.

Meanwhile, Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said that its members would also strike.

Members of the executive committee of the GRA protesting outside Leinster House on 30 June. Source: Leah Farrell

As well as this, they are also staging work-to-rule days when they will refuse to use the garda Pulse system. One already took place last Friday and another will take place tomorrow.

And if all this wasn’t enough, doctors and nurses are rumbling over staff shortages and pay issues.

Teachers

Secondary teachers have begun their strike action today, resulting in disruption to close to 500 schools up and down the country.

Further dates for strikes will be:

• Tuesday 8 November
• Wednesday 16 November
• Thursday 24 November
• Tuesday November 29
• Tuesday 6 December
• Wednesday 7 December

As well as this, ASTI teachers are to remove themselves from supervision and substitution duties from Monday 7 November, which could see the indefinite closure of over 500 schools across the country.

Members of the other teachers’ union TUI said they will not perform the duties of ASTI teachers.

Source: PA Archive/Press Association Images

Gardaí

Both rank-and-file gardaí and sergeants and inspectors will also strike for four days next month.

The dates are:

• 4 November
• 11 November
• 18 November
• 25 November

As well as this, tomorrow will see AGSI members refuse to log into the Garda Pulse system for the second day.

It remains to be seen if the strike will be averted before the proposed days go ahead.

Doctors and nurses

Doctors and nurses haven’t announced any industrial action as of yet, but have demanded “immediate acceleration of the reversal of the pay cuts and pension levies” imposed on them.

They also want staff shortages at hospitals addressed as a matter of urgency.

File photo

The INMO union has said it hold a “nationwide ballot seeking a mandate to commence action if bed numbers/services are not reduced in line with available staffing levels”.

Meanwhile, Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has taken to Government to court over a decision to abolish an allowance worth €61 per week to junior doctors.

If officials though the Luas and Dublin Bus strikes were bad, with all planned actions set to kick off in earnest next month it could be a long and cold winter for the Government.

Read: ‘The solidarity was magnificent’: The 1961 revolt that finally gave gardaí a voice

Read: Schools will shut for seven days as secondary teachers announce strike action