Teachers vote to seek cost-of-living allowance, Long COVID sick leave scheme and more

Delegates representing Ireland's teachers have met in a private session at the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation's annual congress in Killarney yesterday (Wednesday,  April 12) - passing a motion which seeks a new cost-of-living allowance for teachers working in higher cost cities like Dublin.

This allowance would bear similarities to the London Weighting Allowance, in which certain educators and civil servants earn more to compensate for London's higher cost of living. Teachers in the capital city are estimated to receive an annual salary boost of up to 10.5 euro in inner-London, and up to almost €5 in outer-London.

The INTOs agreement will send the group into negotiations with the Department of Education, hopefully procuring themselves the allowance. However, the exact implementation plan has yet to be worked out.

The organisation hopes the allowance will be implemented, bringing teachers back into rent pressure zones, where they have waned in recent years. Historically, new teachers flocked to Dublin post graduation, but rising rent and cost of living has caused this practice to drop off.

Teachers and union members have mixed feelings about the possibility of this 'Dublin allowance.' Concerns lay on how the money will be distributed. For example, if it should be distributed to all living in a certain area, or only to those on a low pay rate.

"How do you help those who are at the lower end of the pay scale? Do you give an allowance to everybody who works or lives in those areas, regardless of whether they are at the bottom of the scale, or the top of the scale?" asked INTO deputy general secretary Deirdre O’Connor.

Ireland's current public service pay agreement, Building Momentum– which dictates the pay increases of public sector employees– expires at the end of 2023. Deliberations for the next agreement are expected to take place in the coming months, with the INTO seeking the potential introduction of the new allowance.

At the INTO Congress, delegates also adopted a resolution seeking a new Long COVID sick leave scheme, and Reproductive Health and Pregnancy Leave.

Delegates at #INTOCongress23 today adopted a resolution seeking a new Long COVID sick leave scheme with full pay. pic.twitter.com/kpCF08My1m

— INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) (@INTOnews) April 12, 2023