LRC Proposals (Croke Park 2)
Ballot
for
Industrial Action
May 2013
Context
Cuts already imposed upon teachers / lecturers
The non-payment of the cumulative pay increases of 6% which were due under the
Towards 2016 Review and Transitional Agreement
The Pension Related Deduction or so-called ‘pension levy’ was introduced with
effect from March 2009 as follows: a 3% levy on the first €15,000 of gross income; a
6% levy on the next €5,000; and 10% on the remainder
The Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotions in the Public Service was
introduced in March 2009.
Pay cuts legislated for under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public
Interest No. 2 Bill 2009, took effect from 1 January 2010 as follows:
• 5% on the first €30,000 of salary
• 7.5% on the next €40,000 of salary
• 10% on the next €55,000 of salary
Context
Cuts already imposed upon teachers / lecturers
Under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 teachers work an extra 33 hours per
year and lecturers an extra 2 hours ‘flex’ and 1 hour student contact per week
Pay cuts of 10% were applied to the salary scales and allowances of new entrants
from 1st January 2011
A Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) of an average of 4% was applied to
pensions with effect from 1st January 2011, on pensions of €12,000 and upwards
Qualification allowances and a range of other allowances were discontinued for
‘new beneficiaries’ from 1st February 2012
Entitlement to certified and uncertified sick leave has been reduced.
Changes to maternity leave announced in Budget 2013 mean that teachers/lecturers
will lose their entitlement to 30 days leave in lieu from 1 May 2013.
LRC Proposals
86% Voted Against
No tweaking of LRC Proposals
Why Ballot?
• The government has intimated that it will legislate to
impose cuts in pay wef 1st July 2013
• Need to have a mandate for industrial action, in the event that
government seeks, by legislation or otherwise, to impose cuts in
pay or to worsen working conditions.
• If Government imposes cuts wef 1st July, we must be in a position
to react from the beginning of the 2013/14 school/college year.
• The mandate for industrial action is entirely consistent with the
overwhelming rejection of the LRC proposals.
Ballot on Industrial Action to be taken in the event that
Government seeks, by legislation or otherwise, to impose cuts in
pay or to worsen working conditions.
Are you willing to take industrial action (e.g. work to
rule, non-cooperation, withdrawal from various
initiatives) up to and including a series of strike actions
as directed by the TUI Executive Committee and in cooperation with the other teacher unions?
Ballot
YES
NO
Industrial Action
What does this mean?
Work to Rule
Teachers/Lecturers do no more than the minimum
required by their employment contract, while complying
with safety and health legislation.
Do not engage in any activities or additional duties which
are not stipulated in your contract, for example, FETAC
programme development or any after school activities
which you are not remunerated for
- Do only what you are paid to do.
Non cooperation/
Withdrawal from
various initiatives
Non cooperation with or withdrawal from:
• School Self Evaluation
• Junior Cycle Reform
• Literacy and Numeracy Strategies
• FETAC Programme Development
Industrial Action
Supervision and
Substitution
If Government stops payment for S&S, non-cooperation
with an unpaid, imposed scheme
Industrial Action
What does this mean?
Non cooperation/
Withdrawal from
various initiatives
Withdrawal from all aspects of the 2010 – 2014 Public
Service Agreement:
• 33 additional hours / ‘flex’ and student contact hour (3rd
Level)
• Teachers would revert to being available for 2 class
periods per week as opposed to 3 for S&S
• Where a teacher has been 'freed up' because a colleague
teacher has taken his/her class away, that teacher would
not be required to be reassigned, in accordance with
his/her timetable, to facilitate the absence of the
colleague teacher.
• Non cooperation with FETAC Programme
Development
• Non compliance with FETAC internal verification
• Non compliance with Self Evaluation of Programmes
and Services
Industrial Action
Industrial Action
What does this mean?
Strike Action
•
•
•
•
•
As a means of last resort
In concert with the other teacher unions
Will be strategically organised, e.g. rolling strikes
Involves a total withdrawal of labour for a predefined period
Limited to 3 days maximum under this mandate
Why a series of strikes?
A series of strikes means:
• Different counties/sectors could strike on different days
• Providing the mandate does not necessarily mean that members will be required to
engage in strike action. That will depend on the circumstances that develop
Industrial Action
• When will this action take place, if needed?
• How much of an impact would industrial action have if we get
a pay cut in June/July and we can’t engage in action until
September?
Questions?
• Vote Yes for Industrial Action
• Fight to protect your pay and terms
and conditions of employment
Recommendation