Teachers working at the same school could soon find themselves on different rates of pay, depending on which union they are a member of.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has revealed arrangements that will see the introduction of different salary arrangements for members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI).

The move comes after the ASTI rejected the Haddington Road deal and represents the first time in 40 years that teachers will not be placed on a common pay scale will.

As a result, teachers in up to 150 second-level schools will be required to declare their TUI membership in order to receive any wage increases brought about through the agreement. 

Members of the ASTI will not be entitled to these pay rises - nor to protection against compulsory redundancy and other benefits - as long as it is not signed up to the Haddington Road deal. This means salary gaps between members of the two unions could be significant, with the annual difference for young teachers potentially being €1,500 to start with and €5,500 three years down the line.

Written by Donal Walsh

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