ASTI Members Are
Right
to Strike for Equal
Pay
People
Before Profit want to express solidarity with teachers who are on strike today.
By
taking action against pay apartheid, ASTI members are doing workers everywhere
an important service. Following in the wake of Luas drivers and bus workers
they are paving the way for pay restoration throughout the economy.
The idea of pay apartheid was never
justified. It sold out new entrants at a time when workers
everywhere were being hammered. Over the course of two budgets new entrants
lost an extra 10% of their wages and suffered cuts to allowances given to their
older colleagues. The result is between €6,000 and €8,000 per annum, or more
than €250,000 across a working life. This is incredibly unfair.
Fine
Gael want to have it both ways. They proclaim their role in creating a
recovery, but insist that newly qualified teachers have to wait. This suggests
that any recovery is not for workers. Announcing seven days of strike action
was therefore important. It signals the depth of feeling within the union and
follows the tactics that succeeded for transport workers. Most Irish people
recognise the justice in the struggle for equal pay, but it is important to win
the propaganda battle.
The
government are already getting dirty. They are trying to pit teachers against
one another, whilst rolling out conservative trade unions officials to condemn
ASTI for making their stand. Keeping parents and the wider public on board will
therefore be vital.
One way to achieve this will be to hold
public meetings in every area to make the case about equality and justice.
Another is to have an ASTI leaflet go into every house in the local area.
People
Before Profit are willing to help in any way that we can. Contact 087 657 4100
to let us know what we can do to help.
