The annual Teachers threaten to strike thread

Would the teacher bashers on here be in favour of pay rises for teachers if their student's results improved?

So is any teacher shortages basically down to that foreign teachers can't teach here to replace Irish teachers that went abroad? Time for the teaching council to get hauled over the coals if so.

I know the hospitals would close in the morning only for foreign staff in to replace Irish doctors n nurses that went to oz, Dubai etc.

Seem people bitching year in year out.

I'm a teaching, rapidly trying to leave the profession. (It took me 4 years and a cross country move to get a job, and now I'm stuck in a school where the principals pals get any form of promotion opportunity). I can move school without starting from the bottom. I would have to work over 25 years to get to 65k. I can never, ever, afford a mortgage as a teacher. For this reason, I have no real reason to defend teachers. Again, I am leaving.

However, why wouldn't a union fight for increased wages in light of rising prices? If nurses, doctors, shop workers etc. feel they should get a pay increase, then they should petition their union to fight for their wages. Stop critisizing teachers for fighting for what every union should be fighting for.

No it's definitely not as simplistic as that.There aren't as many people training to be teachers, or staying here when they do qualify, combined with an increased student population, perfect storm type of thing. But the teaching coucil could definitely be helping matters more.

They need to do something, particularly with Maths teachers. It probably makes sense for some subjects to have free fees. For Maths teachers there is probably also a need to have a different scale to other teachers, they have a lot of other options in industry.

Is there any link/breakdown to teachers pay?

I feel like they're always threatening strike for more pay but maybe they rarely succeed.

Would like to see their actual pay before I cast judgement.

I mean would you adopt the UK system, not move location, as such.

Anyway, my 2c is that teaching isn't easy, but is quite well paid for the amount of hours worked. I'd like any reasonably experienced teacher to honestly argue otherwise. Not saying there is no work done outside classroom hours, but it tends to be way overblown.

If money is the issue, any teacher I know with an ounce of drive, generally has at least one cash-in-hand nixer on evenings or during the summer because their timetable allows it. Not something you'll hear mentioned the ASTI conference.

But... I probably couldn't do the job, but who knows.

Google teacher salary scale (put in primary or post primary) all publicly available. Payscale refers to full time employment.

Attached is link to salary scale applicable to post primary teachers hired since 2011.

https://www.asti.ie/your-employment/pay/salary-scales/post-2011-common-basic-scale/

I don't do any 'cash in hand' nixer. I don't know of any other teacher I work with who does either!

I do know that every private sector tradesman I've ever paid is always cash in hand though.

I know of teachers who do work at a second seasonal job though. Like marking or invigilation , but that ain't no 'handy doss job'.

...and no the UK system stinks, I wouldn't be in favour of it, despite the fact that your government overlords are hell bent on ramming it through here.

Yes the teaching council are a useless bunch who tie everything up in paperwork. Many's the engineer who's been told they didn't have the requirement for maths teaching🤣.

But that is not the fault of teachers. You would rarely find a teacher who wouldn't like to see them abolished and brought back to the department of education, like they did in the UK. I'd agree with the UK on that.

Optional Irish for LC will never happen. No politician wants to be the one that killed the language lol.

Physics is being let die a death. Stem me hole. Once our physics teacher retires next year the subject is gone.

Any PS pay rises will have to come from the shared pot. The money could otherwise be used for other things, like say, energy subsidies that benefit everyone, maybe the renters tax credit, free GP for older kids etc.

The other option would be to increase taxes to cover the increase in salaries. Obviously people wouldn't be happy with that, especially with the cost of living at the moment.

I would wonder if it might be better for teachers to have their annual conferences in private. I think some of those in the unions have a wicked sense of humour and like trolling us.

Im from the future AJR.

Again, google it. Interested to hear what you think would be a fair salary?