Teachers’ unions say they are not seeking pandemic bonus payments

Teachers’ unions have insisted that they are not seeking pandemic bonus payments and instead want their members to be “acknowledged” for their work.

The move follows criticism of unions by many of their members over a joint call to be included in talks around rewarding frontline workers’ contributions during the pandemic.

Earlier this week, the three teachers' unions – the ASTI, INTO, TUI – came together to make a statement on the matter.

“We would expect to be included in any discussions around the acknowledgement of workers’ contributions during the pandemic,” they said.

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“Teachers’ extraordinary efforts – both face-to-face with their pupils in crowded classrooms and in the online learning space – have allowed schools to continue to prioritise teaching and learning while meeting children/young people’s needs.”

However, on Friday the INTO said it had not been seeking a pandemic payment for its members.

“We have long called for healthcare workers, and other essential workers, to be acknowledged for their critical role during the darkest of days and that’s what we will support at any discussions on this issue,” it said.

“Senior Ministers, including the Tánaiste, suggested that workers across the public and private sector should be recognised for their efforts during the pandemic.

"We clearly stated that teachers' extraordinary efforts should be acknowledged, however, the 'pandemic bonus' the primary teachers of Ireland want is much needed investment in our primary and special schools. We aren't looking for a temporary, personal financial reward but rather long-term financial investment in our primary and special schools."

It said this could be done by reducing “supersized” classes, supporting school leaders, funding schools and guaranteeing access to a qualified teacher for every pupil.

In a similar statement, the ASTI said it was not asking for a pandemic payment and supported calls for healthcare workers, and other essential workers, to be “acknowledged” for their critical role during the crisis.

“The Tánaiste suggested that workers across the public and private sector should be recognised for their efforts during the pandemic and it was in that context that we stated earlier this week that teachers’ extraordinary efforts should be acknowledged.

“Of course, we insist that we wouldn’t be excluded from any such discussions. However, at no point did we reference a ‘pandemic bonus payment’.

“We believe that the increased expenditure in education to support schools during the pandemic must be maintained as a baseline for increasing investment in education. It would be fitting that Ireland be raised from the bottom of the list of OECD countries for investment in second-level education as a percentage of GDP.”

The teaching unions’ joint statement earlier this week was widely seen as a call to be included in talks over rewards such as extra leave or bonus payments for frontline workers.

However, the Teachers' Union of Ireland general secretary Michael Gillespie said last Tuesday that one option could include investing in education or "getting rid of unequal payscales", which has seen teachers hired since 2011 earn less than older colleagues.

The teachers' joint statement followed comments by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar who said it was his "strong view" that bonus payments or extra leave should not be limited to frontline workers in the health service.

He gave the example of civil servants in the Department of Social Protection who processed pandemic unemployment payments quickly and Revenue staff who made sure businesses got their employment wage subsidy scheme payments.