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Teachers' union set to reject new €2,000-increase pay agreement

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland feel that the issue of ‘flex’ hour contracts has not been dealt with sufficiently.

A NEW PAY deal that will see public sector workers receiving an additional €2,000 over the next two years has been rejected by one of the main teachers’ unions.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland executive committee will be recommending to its members that they vote in opposition to the new Lansdowne Road Agreement when they are balloted on it in November.

Its opposition comes from a feeling that the agreement has failed to tackle a number of concerns that the union has.

These specifically refer to ‘flex’ hours that had been in place under the Haddington Road Agreement.

Why are they opposing it?

‘Flex hours’ mean that, at the request of management, individuals working at third level may be required to work an additional two lecturing hours above what is the normal standard in any lecturing week in the year.

Speaking about the public servant pay deal, TUI President Gerry Quinn, said, “Research has demonstrated that our members in institutes of technology are experiencing high levels of work-related stress as a result of the additional ‘flex’ hours given for the duration of the Haddington Road Agreement.”

At second level, teachers are frustrated and disillusioned by the extra hours of bureacracy and administration required under the Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements.

He went on to say that the the union considered the agreement completely unacceptable and would be opposing it.

What is in the new pay deal?

The new Lansdowne Road Agreement will cost the exchequer an additional €566 million over a three-year period.

Effects of the pay increase will impact most on those earning less.

Someone earning €30,000 will take home the full €1,000 next year (an increase of 3.3%), and someone earning over €60,000 will take home an extra €733 (an increase of 1.2%).

Those earning over €100,000 will not receive any increase until 2018.

Read: Four out of 10 companies won’t be giving pay rises this year

Also: Most public servants will get €2,000 extra over the next two years

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