The Teachers Union of Ireland has become the first public sector union to reject the proposals for an extension to the public service agreement.

Over two thirds of the membership cast their vote and over 80% of those rejected the proposals for an extension to the deal.

 Speaking following the announcement of the ballot result, TUI President Gerard Craughwell said:

“TUI members – teachers and lecturers - have considered the LRC proposals on an extension to the current Public Service Agreement and have overwhelmingly rejected them. Our members have spoken and they have said enough is enough.

“TUI members, in common with other public servants, have made a major, measurable and verifiable contribution to the country’s recovery. Teachers and lecturers are giving extensive additional productivity under the existing Public Service Agreement. This is on top of the pension levy and pay cuts which have reduced the take-home pay of serving teachers and lecturers by as much as 20%.

“The feedback we received from members during the ballot is that while the pay proposals are a big issue for them, a further major issue is the savage and unwarranted attack on working conditions and on the quality of public education.

“The TUI executive will meet later this week to consider the outcome of the ballot. The union’s next steps will also be debated at our Annual Congress next week.

“TUI will vote against the proposals at the meeting of the ICTU Public Services Committee in April. The TUI position is that it is not for the Public Services Committee to determine working conditions for members of unions who have rejected the proposals”, Mr Craughwell added.