More than 700 students stay home as teachers protest ‘lack of representation’

MORE than 700 second-level pupils were kept at home because of a one-day strike by teachers who claim the school board has denied them rights of representation.

Around 40 staff placed pickets at Árd Scoil Rís in Limerick city in protest at the alleged refusal of the board of management to meet them over their concerns. However, the board has rejected these claims, saying they have been available to discuss any issues.

Every secondary school in the country is entitled to two teacher members on the board of management.

However, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI), said a replacement teacher has not been allowed join the board since one of their members left it early last year.

They said the teachers are striking over the school management’s failure to follow agreed procedures in relation to the operation of the school and its treatment of the school staff.

Former Labour TD and councillor Frank Prendergast was recently made chairperson of the management board and ASTI industrial relations official Bernard Moynihan said he his hopeful the situation can be resolved soon.

“The teachers are taking this action most reluctantly, they want to be in the classrooms instead of on the picket line. We are making every effort to solve the problems with the board through agreed procedures,” he said.

The strike went ahead after talks between the union and the board of the Christian Brothers school on Monday failed to make progress.

The Joint Managerial Body, representing the school board, said the staff have had two members attending management meetings, despite the union’s claims.

“The board has not ignored any requests to meet, we have always been available to talk with staff representatives. Every attempt will be made to try and resolve this, but it is disappointing teachers have withdrawn their labour,” said JMB general secretary, George O’Callaghan.

In the absence of a resolution, staff may decide to hold further strikes, having balloted in favour of industrial action.

Although the Department of Education normally stands back from local disagreements such as this, a spokesperson said last night they are concerned at any dispute which effects students and urged both sides to use the industrial relations resolution mechanisms available to them.