The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) is now asking members to back the Lansdowne Road pay deal, following a breakthrough on the restoration of allowances withdrawn from young teachers during the austerity era.

It is too early to say when they will be restored, and with what strings attached, but the commitment represents a major breakthrough in the campaign against two-tier pay rates.

The TUI previously rejected the Lansdowne Road Agreement. Following this, it engaged in talks with the Department of Education leading to the new proposals, on which members will ballot this month.

The deal covers issues such as lecturing workload in institutes of technology, casualisation, the usage of the 33 'Croke Park' hours and issues in further education. Crucially, the union has also been assured that a recent agreement on restoration of an allowance to fire service recruits sets a precedent for other public service workers.

The loss of qualifications allowances cost young teachers about €6,000 a year, the single biggest factor in lower pay rates.

Irish Independent