Teachers warn they will break rules to strike

TEACHERS have warned they will not be prevented from striking over unsafe schools despite being told such action would breach the national pay deal.

Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) general secretary John Carr said the intolerable conditions to which thousands of pupils returned this week compromised the health and safety of themselves and their teachers.

“They have gone back to sit in damp, unsanitary and overcrowded classrooms, many of which have clapped-out heating systems that won’t last the winter. The pupils breathe air that is a health hazard and have to use outdoor toilets,” he said.

More than 30 INTO members at Ennis Boys National School in Co Clare have voted for a one-day strike on October 7 over delays in plans to move the school to another site.

The staff also said further action would be taken if the Department of Education did not act, with 200 of the 706 pupils being taught in 11 prefabs.

The Sustaining Progress social partnership, the second phase of which was backed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions yesterday, precludes industrial action by public service unions in respect of matters covered by the agreement.

But Mr Carr said the agreement must not be used to allow the Government trample roughshod over the rights of schoolchildren.

“The Government refused to commit to action on the scandal of school buildings in Sustaining Progress. Now if teachers even threaten action, attempts are made by the Department of Education to shackle us with the terms of the agreement,” he said.

“Yes, it restricts the circumstances in which employees may take industrial action. But that does not include protesting to highlight deplorable accommodation that is the result of years of Government neglect,” Mr Carr said.

A spokesperson for Education Minister Noel Dempsey said schools were aware a contingency fund had been set aside to cater for emergency situations such as burst boilers.

“The minister is satisfied that an investment of almost €2 billion between 1998 and the end of this year is testament to the Government’s commitment to improve and modernise school buildings,” she said.

Over €387 million is being invested in primary and second level school projects this year, including 260 significant projects, site purchases for new schools and continuation of asbestos, dust and radon remediation programmes.

Meanwhile, the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) has said the issue of discipline in schools could also result in industrial action by its members. TUI president Paddy Healy said some education authorities had failed to implement codes of discipline and this was aggravated by the Department of Education’s failure to provide adequate resources for this purpose.

“We intend to deem failure to implement codes to be a grievance under industrial relations procedure. After all procedures have been exhausted we will consider industrial action if a remedy is not provided,” he said.