Teachers in primary and secondary schools could find themselves working longer hours in order to avoid getting a pay cut, it has been said.

Labour Relations Commission chief executive Kieran Mulvey stated that public servant employees who wanted their salaries to remain the same could work more in order to avoid this.

"Nobody wants any more pay cuts, but we can change the way we work," he said, in an attempt to resolve the government's financial problems.

Mr Mulvey is the chief broker of the Croke Park agreement, which suggests that areas of the public service could make employees work longer shifts in order to help the nation's fiscal situation to recover.

His comments come after Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn suggested last week that salary reductions in the education system could be imposed if the Croke Park deal does not deliver.

He told the Irish Times that the country is in a "difficult state" at the moment and this may impact on teaching staff.

Written by Donal Walsh 

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