INTO members reject proposed agreement on new entrant pay

Members of the INTO have voted to reject a proposal on ‘new entrant’ salary scale issues by a margin of 53% to 47%. Turnout was 55%.

Following a motion at INTO’s Easter Congress 2018, the trade union entered into negotiations with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on issues pertaining to the pay scale for post-2011 entrants to the profession. The talks took place in the context of a March 2018 report on salary scales which established that such talks would focus on the length of the scale and excluded discussions on initial placement on the scale and the
payment of allowances. The outcome of this process was put to the entire membership of the INTO by way of a ballot.

Today’s vote demonstrates the commitment of our membership to secure full equality and to reject anything less. The proposed agreement left several new entrant cohorts from 2011 onwards paid less than their colleagues and the membership has sought to stand in unity with their colleagues in demanding full restoration.

The INTO’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) will meet next week to carefully consider the result and a forthcoming ballot on industrial action.

INTO General Secretary Sheila Nunan said, “Notwithstanding progress to date on pay equality, the proposed agreement by Government failed to signal an end to pay inequality for all new entrants. Acting in solidarity with their colleagues who are paid less for doing the same job, our membership has signalled that they will not stand for any agreement which leaves them in a similar position.

The Central Executive Committee (CEC) will meet next week to consider the result of the ballot and decide how best to proceed including a ballot for industrial action.”