2,000 teachers protest over government cuts

“Young teachers have suffered far more than public servants generally. Public servants' pay has been cut time and time again over the past number of years. They've had levies and pay cuts. Young public servants have been cut with a further 10% pay cut at entry, but young teachers have a further 5-10% on top of that.”

An estimated 2,000 student and newly-qualified teachers demonstrated outside the Dáil on Wednesday to protest over government cuts which they say are having a serious impact on the education sector.

Many newly qualified teachers were also angry over a 13% pay cut for newly-qualified teachers last year while those who qualified this year faced a 20% salary cut.

The demonstration was organised by the three main teaching unions – the ASTI, INTO and TUI.

ASTI General Secretary Pat King said: “Young teachers have suffered far more than public servants generally. Public servants' pay has been cut time and time again over the past number of years. They've had levies and pay cuts. Young public servants have been cut with a further 10% pay cut at entry, but young teachers have a further 5-10% on top of that.”

Younger teachers are also not protected under the Croke Park Agreement meaning that they can have allowances deducted from their wages while those who joined the public workforce before 2010 cannot.

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