Sir, - In an interview with Padraig Yeates, (Business This Week, March 3rd) Des Geraghty is quoted as saying: "If we allow market forces to run riot in the housing sector and on the wages front we will destroy the fundamental reasons for our success".
The reality is that market forces have been allowed to run riot in the housing market but wages have been kept to a minimum. This is why the salaries of not just one teacher but the combined salary of two teachers is not sufficient to fund a modest house in our urban areas.
In the same article, Mr Geraghty dismisses the secondary teachers claim for a salary increase, yet ignores the claim by politicians, consultants and senior civil servants for the same amount!
Recently an article by leading economist, David McWilliams, (Sunday Business Post, February 26th) began: "Neither Bertie Ahern, Charlie McCreevy, the Governor of the Central Bank nor Des Geraghty want you to get a big real (after inflation) pay rise".
The main thrust of this article was that these gentlemen had not grasped the fact that countries are no longer envied for their capital, as was the case in the past; they are envied for their labour. Today in Ireland, labour is now scarce and much more valuable than capital.
Since the beginning of partnership, relative profits have increased by 68 per cent while relative wages have actually fallen by 29 per cent. This division of the national cake is unprecedented in the western world.
Times have changed. Mr Geraghty should take a fresh look at the economic landscape and refrain from labelling those who recognise this new landscape as slow learners. The number of applicants for the HDip in Education fell by 400 this year.
In a recent survey amongst adolescents, teaching as a career did not rate for boys in their top 10 choices and came only number seven for girls. In an era when well-paid jobs abound for our graduates, teaching is in crisis. I would compare it to the crisis in farming. That the ASTI recognise this and are looking for a justifiable increase in order that teaching be regarded and rewarded as a worthwhile profession for males and females should be respected by other trade unionists whom we have always supported.
The figures show that the salaries of teachers have fallen substantially behind that of other groups during the recent agreements. Irish Times's editorials have disapproved of the ASTI stance yet acknowledge the need for teachers to be well paid. Unfortunately the Public Service Committee of Congress was unable to convince the Government of this necessity and failed to deliver the promised adjustment for teachers who had always abided by agreements.
While they were educating the Celtic Tiger and delivering unprecedented change in an increasingly challenging profession, teachers did not get the increase awarded to other groups in the public and private sector.
In Sean Flynn's article (March 6th), Joe O'Toole is quoted as saying that "teachers have never been more in the firing line. Primary teachers feel they are the dustbins where everybody's fresh idea for education finishes up". I wholeheartedly agree with Mr O'Toole and his analysis mirrors what is happening at secondary level. Therefore I am mystified as to how he could recommend a deal to his members which awarded a mere three per cent to teachers in compensation for having lost out since 1996, when what is owed is subsequently higher. In effect teachers have been repositioned downwards in the salary leagues. - Yours, etc.,
Bernadine O'Sullivan, President, Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, Winetavern Street, Dublin 8.