ASTI - Ireland's main second level teachers union

The ASTI and the other teacher unions are running a campaign of opposition to plans to introduce the proposed single pension scheme for all new public servants.

Proposed scheme is seriously flawed

The inferior pension scheme, which would be compulsory for all new teachers, would be based on career average earnings, with increases linked to the Consumer Price Index rather than to increases in salaries.

An independent report prepared by the actuarial firm Trident pointed out serious flaws in the pension proposals:

• A teacher entering the new pension scheme at the beginning of their career would pay more into their pension than they would ever get out. This means the compulsory scheme may well be open to legal challenge.
• The terms and conditions of the new scheme would not allow it to be approved by the Revenue Commissioners or recognised by the Pensions Board if it were proposed in the private sector.

The ASTI is considering challenging the legality of the new pension scheme on the basis that it will compel new teachers to pay more into the scheme than they will ever get out. Read more

Oppose a two-tier system

These pension proposals are just one part of an attack on new teachers’ conditions. New teachers’ starting salaries have also been slashed by 15%, meaning we have teachers working side by side in schools on two different salary scales.  

What can we do?

Now is our chance to take a strong stance in opposition to the proposed pension reform and in favour of protecting the teaching profession.

Political promises

In advance of the General Election, the teacher unions contacted the main political parties to seek a commitment that, if in government, they would revisit the new public service single scheme and listen to the unions’ legitimate concerns.

The teacher unions recently met with the Minister for Public expenditure and Reform to discuss the issue.

Get involved

We need to ensure that the new Government knows the ASTI’s 18,000 members are strongly resistant to the new pension scheme. Play your part by informing yourself and by getting involved in the ASTI campaign to protect teachers’ pensions. 

Campaign meetings
A series of joint union meetings have taken place around the country. Members were given accurate information about the current public service pension and updated about the seriously disapproved pension terms that are threatened for new entrants. Make sure your friends and family are fully and factually informed and look out other ways you can get involved in the campaign on the ASTI website.

Check this page regularly for updates on the campaign to protect teachers’ pensions.