CEC urges NO vote in October ballot

Date

Monday 18 September 2017

News type

ASTI news

The ballot on Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA) will be conducted in October.

The PSSA is an extension of the Lansdowne Road Agreement 2013-2018. ASTI members voted to reject the Lansdowne Road Agreement in October 2015.

ASTI Central Executive Council (CEC) is urging members to vote NO to the PSSA.

School stewards are being asked to distribute and collect ballot papers between Monday, October 9th and Monday, October 16th. The closing date for receipt of ballot papers on the PSSA is Friday October, 20th (5.30 p.m.).

See Nuacht 5 for What a NO Vote Means, What a Yes Vote Means.

Summary of key points of Agreement:

Pay restoration:

  • 1st January 2018: current salaries to increase by 1%.
  • 1st October 2018: salaries to increase by 1%.
  • 1st January 2019: salaries which are less than €30,000 to increase by 1%*.
  • 1st September 2019: salaries to increase by 1.75%.
  • 1st January 2020: salaries less than €32,000 to increase by 0.5%*.
  • 1st October 2020: salaries to increase by 2%.

    • This represents a 5.75% increase over three years for teachers.

    *Teachers are not eligible for these measures/ increases.

    Pensions:

  • The agreement provides for a reduction in the pension levy as follows:
    • 1st January 2019: increase in pension levy threshold from €28,000 - €32,000 (€325 per annum) and reduced levy for post 1 January 2013 pension scheme members (€500 combined).
    • 1st January 2020: increase in pension levy threshold to €34,500 (€250 per annum) and reduced rate of levy of post 1 January 2013 pension scheme members (varies, e.g. €350 combined at €40,000 salary).
  • The conversion of the remaining levy into a permanent Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC). The ASC will reflect the different pension benefits accruing to pre and post 1 January 2013 scheme members.
    • The remaining permanent ASC for pre 2013 pension scheme members will range between 0.8% for a teacher earning €37,500 and 5.95% for a teacher earning €82,500. For post 1 January 2013 pension scheme members the permanent ASC will range between 0.27% for teachers earning €37,500, and 1.65% for a teacher earning €67,500.

    • Sample pension levy reductions for pre 1 January 2013 teachers

    Salary

    Current Pension levy

    Retained as ASC

    Restoration

    €38,166

    €941

    €366

    €575

    €48,581

    €1,983

    €1,408

    €575

    €58,019

    €2,926

    €2,351

    €575

    €67,442

    €3,906

    €3,331

    €575

    €73,729

    €4,566

    €3,991

    €575


    Sample pension levy reductions for post 1 January 2013 teachers

    Salary

    Current Pension levy

    Retained as ASC

    Restoration

    €38,166

    €941

    €122

    €819

    €48,581

    €1,983

    €468

    €1,515

    €58,019

    €2,926

    €783

    €2,143

    €67,442

    €3,906

    €1,109

    €2,797

    €73,729

    €4,566

    €1,329

    €3,237

    Other provisions

  • Pension benefits will be preserved for the duration of the agreement. Pension parity will remain. No consumer price index calculation for future pensions will be implemented for the duration of the Agreement.
  • Teachers are not eligible for the working hours concession in the Agreement (PSSA: Section 2.12.12). This is because the Government side is of the view that the supervision and substitution opt-out offer provided an opportunity for teachers to reduce their working time.
  • No change in working hours for teachers. Continuation of Croke Park hours.
  • From January 2019, an end to the pension levy on non-pensionable earnings (e.g. earnings from State Examinations work).
  • Commitments to industrial peace.

    • CEC urges NO vote

    Key reasons for CEC recommendation

    ASTI Central Executive Council is recommending that members vote NO in the ballot on the PSSA.

    CEC is recommending members vote NO because of:

  • No commitment to equal pay for post 2010 entrants.
  • Pay increase still leave many teachers below their 2008 earnings.
  • Unacceptably high pension contribution.
  • Continuation of Croke Park Hours.
  • Continuation of imposed ‘reform’.
  • Industrial action in respect of any matters covered by the agreement is precluded.
  • Disputes which are unresolved following conciliation of FEMPI, including its punitive elements.
  • The Agreement endorses the continuation of FEMPI, includes its punitive elements.

    • A CEC subcommittee has set out the implications of a NO vote and a YES vote. See Nuacht 5.

    Following important documents are available below:

  • Public Service Stability Agreement – 2018 – 2020.
  • Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 - The Lansdowne Road Agreement.
  • Nuacht 4, August 2017 – Suspension of industrial action.
  • Junior Cycle Reform - Joint Statement on Principles and Implementation and Appendix to the Joint Statement - Teachers’ Union of Ireland/ Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland /Department of Education and Skills - 22 May 2015
  • Statement of Assurances 29 November 2016 (available in Outcome of DES and ASTI Discussions - November, 2016).
  • Action Plan for Education 2016-2019.
  • “Looking at Our School 2016 – A Quality Framework for Post-Primary Schools” (DES).
  • Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life - The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children - 2011-2020.
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