Pay and supervision will be hot topics at teachers’ meetings

BENCHMARKING and supervision rows are set to dominate meetings of the country’s three teachers’ unions this week, days before schools reopen.

Secondary students could be facing a third year of disruption to classes as many issues remain unresolved.

There could also be trouble, although to a lesser degree, in primary schools.

The public services benchmarking report will be up for in-depth analysis by the ASTI, although the union remains outside the process since withdrawing from negotiations last year.

While many ASTI members believe it is time to sign up to benchmarking, its standing committee meeting is unlikely to take any drastic moves in that direction when it meets on Thursday.

The report in June recommended pay rises of 13% for secondary teachers but the committee will concentrate on perceived pitfalls in the document.

The ongoing ban on members carrying out voluntary supervision and substitution will also be discussed.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey has put back the introduction of Leaving Cert biology and home economics syllabuses for two months in the hope ASTI members will be back on board within that time.

ASTI president PJ Sheehy said until such time as its long-running pay dispute is resolved, members will not attend in-service training for new courses, and officials will not negotiate on the supervision and substitution issue.

While the Teachers Union of Ireland accepted the 37-an-hour on offer for substitution and supervision in June, it still has the important issue of pensionability to finalise with the department.

TUI general secretary Jim Dorney said that while they have accepted the deal, they will not do so for long if that element is not agreed. “It has been agreed in principle that the payment would be pensionable, but we hope to begin talks about it soon,” he said.

Mr Dorney said his union, which also represents third-level lecturers, will be seeking early phasing in of the pay.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation has a number of grievances with the public services pay report, among which is the pay gap between national school and second-level principals.

While the benchmarking report appeared to go a long way towards meeting that claim, INTO general secretary John Carr says subsequent amendments effectively gave second-level principals greater increases.

The supervision row may also be an issue, as primary principals have been angered at suggestions secondary bosses could be in line for a payment of 2,500 for managing last year’s contingency plan.

Some INTO members may decide to opt out of lunchtime supervision and force outside supervisors to also be recruited into primary schools.

The union will also consider legal advice on the case of Tomás Ó Dulaing, who was sacked as principal of a Co Meath gaelscoil last month after a row over religious education.