Teachers vote in favour of industrial action

Teachers have voted overwhelming in favour of industrial action over the Government's handling of the economic crisis.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), which together represent more than 50,000 teachers, said that its members had voted by a large majority for the action, which may include strikes.

The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFTU) is expected to begin balloting its members on industrial action next week.

In a joint statement issued tonight the unions said that the decision to vote in favour of industrial action, had been a difficult one for teachers to make but reflected the anger of teachers at the Government’s “inequitable handling of the economic crisis.”

The general secretaries of the three unions said the ballot results showed the frustration felt by teachers over education cutbacks and the introduction of a pensions levy for public sector workers.

“Teachers and other workers expected to be treated in a fair and equitable manner and that the well off in society would contribute their fair share,” the union leaders said.

“Teachers want government to re-enter discussions to address the economic crisis with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) on the basis that the burden must be shared by all sectors of society according to their means.”

The unions said that industrial action will be organised on a co-ordinated basis in conjunction with the ICTU.