Approximately 1,800 delegates are attending the three teacher trade unions annual conferences in Wexford, Cork and Killarney this week.

It is expected that unequal teacher salaries will be a major issue of the conferences. The INTO, the ASTI and the TUI are all expected to debate motions criticising lower pay for new entrants to the teacher profession and calling for the restoration of a common pay scale for all. The unions estimate that there is now more than a 20% gap between the two categories.

In addition to the issues surrounding pay, there are a range of other issues to be debated by the Unions which could result in industrial action. The ASTI continues to be opposed to changes in the junior cycle reform and is planning a series of strike days to take place from this autumn if the dispute is not resolved.

Additionally, both the ASTI and TUI have motions before their respective conferences next week calling for their withdrawal from supervision and substitution duties if monies provided under the Landsdowne Road agreement is not paid. However as both the ASTI and the TUI rejected the new Lansdowne Road agreement on public service pay, these payments are at risk.

Similarly the ASTI and TUI will be debating motions proposing that teachers should cease working the additional 33 hours per year which teachers had to work under the terms of the Croke Park agreement. This has the potential to trigger penalties set out in the financial legislation such as the non-payment of annual increments.

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