Members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) in Education and Training Boards (ETBs) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action, in a dispute over changes to their terms and conditions.
The TUI is accusing certain managements of introducing unilateral changes which have increased workload, changed established practices and departed from the terms of collective agreements.
Members voted by a margin of 94% to take industrial action. The TUI has over 11,500 members in the sector.
Education and Training Boards manage and operate community national schools, post-primary schools, further education colleges, and a range of adult and further education centres.
"The overwhelming mandate given to the union by our members in ETBs for industrial action, up to and including strike action, shows the depth of feeling on the unilateral changes that certain managements have sought to impose across the sector," said TUI President David Waters.
"As always, we are prepared to resolve the issues of concern through active negotiation but, should that not prove possible, we stand equally prepared to take effective, escalating industrial action as directed by the union's Executive Committee," Mr Waters said.
The TUI said it will engage with Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) to seek a forum to discuss the issues of concern and will seek the assistance of the Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education.
The Department of Education and the Department of Further and Higher Education said there are nationally agreed procedures for dealing with grievances which provide a pathway for resolution of such matters.
"The Departments would encourage engagement, including the formal procedures if required, prior to any decisions on industrial action that would impact on the delivery of education to learners," a spokesperson said.
