Serious concerns over proposed pay deal and potential implications for Senior Cycle Redevelopment agreement
The second-level teacher unions, the ASTI and the TUI, have expressed serious concerns regarding the local bargaining pay provisions contained in the Public Service Agreement 2026-2029 and are seeking urgent clarification from the Department of Education and Youth on how these provisions will give full effect to the separate collective agreement between the teacher unions and the Department in relation to the Senior Cycle Redevelopment.
Second-level teachers who are members of the ASTI and TUI voted to accept a suite of support measures for the ongoing implementation of significant reform changes encompassed in Senior Cycle Redevelopment. These support measures include a commitment from the Department of Education and Youth to the delivery of a 3% increase for teachers under local bargaining. As part of this commitment, a 1% increase was paid to teachers under the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026. The remaining 2% was to be paid to teachers under the local bargaining element of a successor agreement.
However, the Public Service Agreement 2026-2029 provides only for a further 1% under local bargaining in March 2029, with the final 1% to be addressed in a future successor agreement. The teacher unions are seeking confirmation from the Department of Education and Youth as to the date on which the outstanding 1% will be paid, in order to ensure full compliance with the commitments made under the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Implementation Support Measures agreement.
Linda Kelly, General Secretary of the ASTI, stated: “The implementation of the new Senior Cycle is by far the most significant challenge facing teachers and schools in recent decades. It is vital that the Department of Education and Youth delivers on its commitments to teachers and their unions. The text of the current proposals is very concerning. Teachers have a clear expectation with regard the outstanding 1% and they need absolute clarity on how the commitments made under the Senior Cycle Redevelopment agreement will be honoured in full.”
Michael Gillespie, General Secretary of the TUI, stated: “Both Government Departments, DPER and DEY, must provide absolute clarity without delay on the date on which the outstanding 1% under local bargaining will be paid. This is essential to ensure that the commitments made to teachers under the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Implementation Support Measures agreement are honoured in full.”
