The Minister for Education has said there could be extra pay increases for teachers, but only under the productivity terms of the new pay deal.
In an interview with The Irish Times, Dr Woods said there was now "scope for negotiations" based on productivity and other issues which could deliver increases for teachers above the 19 per cent agreed under the terms of the Partnership for Prosperity and Fairness. The "bench-marking mechanism" of the PPF, which links public pay to that in the private sector, provided the potential for teachers to further improve their pay and conditions, he said.
"The teaching profession is doing a magnificent job and, as Minister, I want to see it recognised," he said.
Dr Woods welcomed the decision of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland, to delay any disruption of the examination system until the next school year. This would give time to discuss all aspects of the PPF. The Minister strongly defended the terms of the pay deal, despite the considerable opposition among teachers. The increases on offer were "quite substantial", with a cumulative 29 per cent on offer for the average teacher when the PPF was combined with the Budget tax changes. The bottom line was what was in people's pay packets, and teachers would see the real increases in their pockets, he said.
The level of opposition among teachers to the PPF has surprised many. Primary teachers, members of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, were the only ones to vote in favour, but only by the tightest margin. The Teachers' Union of Ireland rejected the ballot but accepted the terms of the PPF. ASTI walked out of the negotiations and has made a demand for a 30 per cent pay increase. It is likely to decide on its strategy, including possible industrial action, at its annual conference next month.
Last night the group which co-ordinated opposition to the PPF among the teaching unions, Teachers Against a Partnership Deal, held a key meeting in Dublin to decide on its strategy. Sources within the group strongly denied weekend reports that a move would be made to "oust" Senator Joe O'Toole as general secretary of the INTO.
The focus of the campaign will be to build co-operation across the three teaching unions. The group strongly disputes the notion that the PPF will deliver a 29 per cent pay increase; by its reckoning the increase for the average teacher is more modest in terms of take-home pay.
The challenge facing the group is to maintain the momentum of the anti-PPF campaign, especially within the TUI and the INTO, which voted in favour of the deal at last week's special ICTU conference.
In the coming weeks the leadership of the main unions can be expected to promote the potential of the bench-marking system for teachers. This holds out the possibility that teachers could gain significant increases for their co-operation with new curriculum changes, school planning and other initiatives. But, under the terms of the PPF, no additional money will emerge from the new system until 2002.