Teachers to strike over working conditions at school

TEACHERS at Kilkenny City Vocational School are to take strike action in protest over working conditions, locking out over 300 pupils for a day.

In a further twist to long-running difficulties at the school, teachers voted unanimously at an emergency meeting of their union to stop work for a day on Thursday, April 7.

The action follows the alleged failure of the school to address serious health and safety matters brought to its attention by the teachers and Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) representatives on a number of occasions.

However, parents fear that any action, particularly in the run-up to the exams, will have a huge impact on already stressed students.

They also questioned the timing and the motive behind six recent break-ins at the school.

“If this strike goes ahead, it will have a devastating impact on the students,” said parents association spokesperson Kay Browne. “We would be demanding that this action is cancelled immediately.”

On March 25, 2004, the teachers voted for industrial action at the school. However, no action took place in the hope that the situation would improve, but nothing has happened in the meantime, says the TUI.

Union general secretary Jim Dorney said the matter will be discussed at the group’s annual congress on Monday night. “The concerns raised are regarding health and safety issues. In our members’ views, the school is in such a state that they feel unsafe in it.”

Matters have been deteriorating at the school over the last number of months. On Monday, seven windows were broken in the school, four in the science room and three in the deputy principal’s room.

Gardaí have confirmed they have been called to the school on several occasions.

Neither the VEC nor the school principal were available for comment yesterday.