The main teachers' unions in Ireland are to ballot their members for strike action from September over a pay row.
Two teaching unions, the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), have said they are prepared to ballot members unless an acceptable pay deal is reached as staff are struggling massively with the cost of living crisis.
The third major union, the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) is meeting on Friday to make a decision on a ballot too.
READ MORE: Government could cut excise duty of beer and wine to help cost of living crisis
Inflation has risen to a high of 9.6%, but wages have not mirrored that increase, and this is causing millions of Irish people to struggle to make ends meet.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast on Friday morning, ASTI President Miriam Duggan explained: “People are finding themselves unable to meet their bills, energy costs are frightening,
“My July electricity bill was near to what I’d expect in November or December.
“So like all workers we’re really worried about how we’re going to heat and light our homes this winter, how we’re going to cope with food costs and basic essentials.”
The unions are set to meet with the Workplace Relations Committee (WRC) at the end of the month to try and hash out an acceptable deal.
“We’re hoping there’s a real window of opportunity in the talks coming up in the next couple of weeks,” Ms Duggan added.
“That we won’t be needing to use that ballot but we must be ready in case it’s necessary.
“We have a negotiating team at IPTU and they’re representing our best interests.
“Really the most sensible thing to do right now is allow them the freedom to do their work. So it’s far better if we don’t get involved in discussing those figures now.”
READ NEXT:
