Part-time teachers in second-level schools have secured a series of significant increases in pay and conditions.
The TUI president, Mr Derek Dunne, said last night that that the new deal vindicated the union's stance.
The TUI, he said, was determined that part-time workers should have similar rights to full-time teachers; it also wanted to ensure that the spirit of EU directives in this area was respected.
Mr Charlie Lennon, the ASTI general secretary, who also helped to negotiate the deal, said it would help end discrimination against part-time teachers.
INTO general secretary, Mr John Parr, also welcomed the increases which include:
The threshold for Eligible Part-Time Teachers (EPTs) has been abolished. All part-time teachers employed throughout the school year will now have an EPT contract irrespective of the number of hours to be worked.
Additional hours worked by EPTs will now be paid for at the same hourly rate as their timetabled hours.
Part-time teachers contracted to work for a period of less than the full school year will be paid at the same hourly rate as an EPT. The part-time rate will now only be applicable to teachers who work on a casual (non-contracted) basis and who do not exceed 150 hours in a school year. Above 150 hours, such teachers will be paid at the "add on" rate.
The new casual part-time rate has been increased by over 35 per cent from €27.12 to €36.67 and will reach almost €39.77 per hour from January 1st 2004.
Increased rates and arrears will apply from December 20th, 2001. New contracts apply to qualified part-time staff in primary or secondary schools and other areas, including Traveller training centres and the prison service.
