ASTI Teachers Demand Pay Rise, Criticize Government

0:00It's April 8th. This is Europe News Today, AI-powered stories shaping Europe. I'm Cory with the story. Around 500 second-level teachers gathered at the ASTI conference in Wexford firing up debates on pay and allowances on the final day. Key motions push for escalating industrial action come September unless everyone gets a 6% bump across all pay scales. Another call straight up for wage hikes to keep pace with skyrocketing living costs. Earlier this week, ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie, laid it down clear to delegates, teachers need a substantial pay rise in the next public. Sector talks, no excuses. He slammed the government for clinging to that old recession and austerity vibe, even as the current deal winds down at the end of June and fresh. Negotiations kick off soon. Christie didn't hold back on frustrations either, calling out the pile of unpaid local bargaining increases under the existing agreement as a total. He insisted no new deal gets signed until those get squared away, highlighting how this

1:03hits teachers pockets right now amid broader workload, strenings. Meanwhile, the conference dug into other hot topics like students leaning on AI, crushing teacher workloads, and revamping the senior cycle program. These chats show the unions eyeing the full picture beyond just cash. As talks heat up in the weeks ahead, ASTI is making it loud and clear. Even for a real shift in how teachers get valued, setting the stage for some, serious moves if demands aren't met.