VEC strike threatens payments to teachers and students
The 33 VECs have been issued with strike notice for March 24 by the union representing 700 administration staff.
Those affected include:
Teachers at vocational schools, PLC colleges, Youthreach centres, prisons,
5,000 students on VTOS allowances,
and 900 students at Traveller Training Centres.
The administration staff said the Department of Education has failed to implement an agreement on staffing levels reached last November.
Among the recommendations were the appointment of an additional 150 administration staff, and upgrades for existing workers.
However, none of the changes have been implemented because of the freeze on public sector recruitment announced in the Budget.
IMPACT union national secretary Al Butler said members are angry at the failure of the Department to approve appointments.
“The report was based on the workload in 2000, before we had to deal with supervision payments and the effects of legislation on part-time work and school attendance,” he said.
The administrative staff have already been refusing to carry out extra work since before Christmas, affecting supervision payments and promotions for teachers.
The Teachers Union of Ireland, which has around 8,000 members in vocational schools and PLC colleges, said it is concerned about the planned strike.
“The work-to-rule is already having a huge effect but further industrial action could mean our members won’t get their wages,” said TUI president Derek Dunne.
A Department of Education spokesperson said they are committed to implementing the report’s recommendations, and further meetings would take place before the strike date.
Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association, said staff’s frustration is understandable.
“The VECs don’t have enough management grades or enough staff, because of huge increase in responsibilities brought on in recent years by Government legislation and initiatives aimed at disadvantaged,” he said.
