Concerns over lack of job security

MORE than 3,000 secondary school teachers have no job security and have been in that situation for up to 15 years, a conference heard yesterday.

The leadership of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) was criticised by members over the lack of progress on the issue of non-permanent teachers.

The union’s annual convention directed officials to negotiate with the Department of Education and Science for permanent posts for all teachers who have taught full time for five years.

Kilkenny delegate Martin O’Neill said he is one of seven temporary teachers at his school for more than two years. “We don’t know if we’ll be there next year but we were assured 18 months ago all this would be dealt with and nothing has happened. Most young teachers won’t join the union because there’s nothing in it for them,” he said.

The issue has been a major bone of contention for a number of years, with thousands of teachers unsure for many months of the year whether they will have a job after the summer holidays.

Only 6% of teaching graduates are likely to get a permanent job in their first year out of college, according to ASTI deputy general secretary John White.

Most part-time teachers are filling the place of school staff who are on career breaks, maternity leave or in job-sharing.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey has said a possible easing of the situation could be found by creating permanent posts for teachers on a shared basis between neighbouring schools.

Cork North delegate Máire Ní Chiarba said it was unacceptable that 3,270 of the union’s 17,000 members were non-permanent.

“Even full-time teachers find it difficult to make life choices like taking out a mortgage or deciding to have a family,” she said.

Her branch colleague Margaret Searson said she had worked as a temporary teacher for 15 years until recently.

“I know how vulnerable and insecure these teachers feel and I would love to have had this issue improved years ago,” she said.

Mayo delegate Greta Harrison said grades such as temporary whole-time or eligible part-time would not be accepted in other public sector workers.

It was suggested there would be more posts for non-permanent teachers if the Department of Education reduced the teaching hours of other staff. A motion was passed to negotiate for such reductions from next September to allow assistant principals and special duties teachers carry out work effectively.