Teachers' union makes investment plea [Independent.ie]
- Published: 26 April 2011
Education is a human right which appears to have no place in the balance sheet of Ireland's financiers, a union said today.
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) argued teachers and pupils are suffering because of the appalling misdeeds of those in authority.
General secretary Peter MacMenamin told delegates at its annual conference investment in education was necessary to have a well-educated workforce to beat the recession.
"The cause is not of our making but we suffer the effects," he said.
"We suffer the effects of reductions in our pay and pensions, curtailment of our ability to do the job that we want to do.
"In many cases, poverty in the classroom is not just poverty of the student but it is poverty also of some of our members, brought about by the appalling misdeeds of those in authority - both in banks and in Government."
The trade union - which represents 14,500 post-primary, higher and further education teachers and lecturers - wants a moratorium on posts of responsibility lifted, pensions for retired members protected and the rights of new members entering the profession protected.
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