Parents plead with teachers to end industrial action in interests of pupils

PARENTS want teachers to end any industrial action that will directly affect their children’s education, as unions plan to intensify their campaign against pay cuts.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe has also expressed hope that teacher unions and others representing public sector workers will take up Labour Relations Commission (LRC) chief executive Kieran Mulvey’s offer to chair talks aimed at resolving differences between unions and the Government and other public service employers.

The National Parents Council-Primary (NPC-P) said it recognises the right of teachers to take industrial action, but it called on them to reverse any work-to-rule directives that would affect children’s contact time with teachers and to ensure any further actions will not disadvantage children in the future.