Schools ‘coping’ with action

Schools are operating smoothly but atmospheres could become more intense if industrial action by 16,000 teachers continues for much longer, a management leader has said.

While most of the 500 schools where Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) members are engaging in low-level action are staffed solely by that union, more than 120 also have Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) members.

Most of those are community and comprehensive schools, whose management body has been taking calls in recent days about what to do as problems escalate.

The Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools general secretary Ciarán Flynn said some of the concerns relate to how to manage the situation if the action has more serious consequences.

“Schools are coping very well, particularly the principals and deputy principals, given the difficulties that are being encountered.

“We’re concerned if it went on long term about the impact for meetings, or trips being cancelled, or teachers doing in-service training. If it were to go on for a weeks and months, then tensions could spiral.”

There could be particular difficulties for schools if TUI members have to do work because they are signed up to Haddington Road and ASTI members do not after rejecting the deal last month.

Despite ASTI calls for “appropriate talks”, Education Minister Ruairí Quinn and Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin repeated this week that the deal cannot be renegotiated.

Further tensions could be caused by the fact that some TUI members who started teaching in schools since 2011 are due to benefit from revised salary scales worth up to €2,500 a year, and are awaiting a circular letter from the Department of Education to implement the effects of the Haddington Road Agreement.

In addition, all TUI members in schools and colleges who were due a salary increment this year should have them paid.

The department said a week ago it would be issued this week but it now says it will not. A spokesperson was unable to say when it will be sent out.

Mr Quinn could make a ministerial order with-drawing payment to ASTI members who are doing supervision and substitution work, which TUI members must now do and on an unpaid basis, but it is unclear how soon he might do so.

While that could ease tensions in dual-union schools, it might also force the ASTI to escalate its dispute.