Teachers in Ireland are set to challenge new pay levels that will see people entering the profession receive lower wages than in the past.

According to the Irish Independent, unions have claimed these rules are discriminatory against younger individuals, with three of the country's major organisations stating they will consider legal action.

A spokesperson for the Teachers Union of Ireland told the publication is it "gravely concerned by a situation that allows two teachers or lecturers doing the same work to be paid from different pay scales".

Meanwhile, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland also indicated they may pursue the matter in the courts.

Currently, new teachers entering the classroom in 2011 will receive a salary 14 per cent lower than those starting work before austerity measures were introduced across the public sector.

This could result in educators being paid up to 6,000 euros less than last year, the newspaper stated.

Recently, teaching unions also suggested they could challenge changes to pension rules that would affect younger individuals, with general-secretary of INTO Sheila Nunan describing the new regulations as "probably unlawful".

Written by Donal Walsh
 

Comments