Union says teachers' pay levels must be attractive

The flow of people from industry into teaching will only continue if the pay level of teachers is maintained, the TUI general secretary, Mr Jim Dorney, has warned.

Speaking at annual congress in Galway yesterday, Mr Dorney said that it would also depend on teachers being allowed to attain a level of job satisfaction "without undue bureaucratic interference from the authorities, whether these be at school, VEC, institute of technology or Department of Education level".

Mr Dorney said that he wasn't just referring to pay, but also to school discipline and support services. "We know we are doing a good job. We want acknowledgment of this fact. We want to be facilitated in continuing to do a good job by receiving fair pay and the support necessary."

The Government's decision in the last Budget relating to retirement would also have a bearing on job conditions, he said. It was "regrettable" that new entrants to the service - as in those starting after April 1st of this year - would not be able to retire before the age of 65, as opposed to 60, or 55 after 35 years' service. "It is particularly regrettable, as teachers are subject to more, not less, stress," he said. "The only good thing about it is that we have 40 years in which to change it."

Mr Dorney described as a "scandal" the failure by the Department of Education to implement the McIver report on post-Leaving Certificate further education. The department was due to have stated its position on the report on March 30th last, but its advice was still awaited.

Urging delegates to "build on achievements to date", the TUI general secretary said that there were "those in high places" who had described the union's annual congress as a "populist, confrontational gathering, as opposed to a considered and measured policy-making forum. By our actions over the next few days, we will prove them wrong," he said.