'Equal pay for equal work' redline issue for ASTI secondary teachers

Secondary teachers say equal pay for equal work is a redline issue for them.

Their union the ASTI is meeting with Department of Education officials again today to try to avert Thursday's strike.

It's due to be the first of seven days of industrial action over pay levels for new staff, who're earning less than colleagues hired before the crash.

ASTI president Kieran Christie says there can be no compromise: "Colleagues sit side by side and they are not experiencing equal work for equal pay.

"We want the restoration of that issue and we want it in short order.

"That is what our campaign is about and that is why strike action has been mandated."