Up to 65,000 teachers and lecturers have voted to take part in a one-day strike organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for November 24th.
The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, Irish Federation of University Teachers, Irish National Teachers' Organisation and Teachers Union of Ireland today announced the result of their ballot to support the industrial action.
The IFUT already has a mandate for industrial action.
In a joint statement, the general secretaries of the four unions said teachers and lecturers had decided to take the action because they had “never before faced such a serious threat to their pay, pensions and terms and conditions”.
“The four teacher unions believe there is a better, fairer way which does not involve singling out public sector workers or dismantling vital public services.
“Teachers, lecturers and other public sector workers are being treated as if they are somehow responsible for causing the crisis in the public finances. They are angry at how their sector has already suffered severe cutbacks, both in terms of teacher and lecturer job losses as well as financial support for schools and colleges.”
Such cuts had had “a hugely detrimental effect on the most vulnerable students in their communities and on working conditions of teachers”, the statement said.
The unions said teachers were also hurt by their “vilification” as public servants by “certain commentators”.
“OECD reports demonstrate that Ireland has a relatively modest public service which is efficient. Public sector workers have already taken a pay cut in the form of the pension levy which was unilaterally imposed on them earlier this year.”
A spokesman for Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe branded the decision "regrettable". “The minister has consistently said that the financial difficulties faced by the country will not be in any way advanced by
the threat or reality of industrial action,” he said.
“There’s a need to pull together in the national interest and to act in solidarity as Irish citizens in the common good.”
The unions said the results of the ballots were a signal to the Government that “singling out teachers and other public sector workers is unacceptable and that an alternative approach to economic recovery must be adopted which ensures that the burden is shared fairly, the vulnerable are protected and that vital public services are maintained”.
“This must be done by taxation as well as economies and not just through cutting essential public services. The Government has a window of opportunity between now and November 24th to signal its commitment to such an alternative approach.”
Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe said, however, that all workers must rally together in the interests of the country.
A spokesman said: “The Minister has consistently said that the financial difficulties faced by the country will not be in any way advanced by the threat or reality of industrial action. There’s a need to pull together in the national interest and to act in solidarity as Irish citizens in the common good.”
Industrial action, including strike action on November 24th, will be coordinated by the four teacher unions.
Additional reporting: PA