ASTI action set to cause disruption in schools
It is to direct its 17,000 members not to work the 33 extra hours a year previously done under the Croke Park Agreement, meaning after-school staff, parent-teacher, and other meetings will have to move back into school hours.
The industrial action to take effect from Oct 2, was decided at a day-long meeting of the standing committee of ASTI. It announced on Friday that its members voted against the Haddington Road deal.
In addition to Croke Park hours no longer being worked, ASTI members are being directed not to co-operate with in-service training for the new junior cycle. They will also be told not to undertake any duties arising from middle management posts in schools been left unfilled by the public service promotions ban.
The ASTI said teachers are anxious not to disrupt students’ education but the action is in response to the Government reneging on its side of the Croke Park deal and cuts to teachers’ pay.
“The loss of classroom teachers from schools, the withdrawal of guidance services, the axing of middle management posts, the tying up of teachers’ time and energy with extra administrative work, these are the actions that have disrupted and damaged the education of our young people in recent years,” said ASTI general secretary Pat King.
A spokesperson for Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said last night that he will consider the position and will consult with his Cabinet colleagues.
An ASTI spokesperson said the union would expect “some attempt at conversation” from the Department of Education or the Government if industrial action is being taken by 17,000 teachers. However, with all other public service unions signed up to Haddington Road, there is little or no likelihood of any renegotiation for secondary teachers.
The directives put the most immediate pressure on principals, themselves ASTI members in at least 370 secondary schools, as they and staff would be banned by the union from taking on additional management duties.
On Friday, the TUI said its members voted narrowly in favour of the agreement. A spokesperson said they would not take on any work ordinarily done by ASTI members at the 130 community and comprehensive schools, or community colleges with dual-union staff.
National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals director Clive Byrne said members will look to provide as good a service as they can for students.
The Irish Federation of University Teachers announced yesterday that members accepted the deal on a 63%-37% margin.
Under a law passed in June, rejecting Haddington Road means ASTI members will not see the restoration of pay cuts to those earning over €65,000, salary increment freezes or pay withdrawn for supervision and substitution work. For those who started teaching since 2011, a €2,000 salary clawback being paid to teachers whose unions accepted the deal will not be available.
Proposals designed to avert industrial action by junior doctors were last night sent back to the HSE for further clarification.
Although the Irish Medical Organisation had described the proposals on reducing excessive working hours as “significant”, its junior doctor committee last night said that as they stand, the proposals were not sufficient to put to a ballot of members.
The HSE has been asked for clarification as to how it intends to implement the European Working Time Directive, “including verification processes and sanctions for non-compliance”.
The HSE is in breach of European directives by routinely requiring NCHDs to work in excess of 48 hours a week. While junior doctors have balloted for strike action, that action has been suspended while negotiations between the two parties continue. The junior doctor committee is due to meet again next Thursday to consider responses from the HSE.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
