Quinn warns teachers over redundancy risks again

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has repeated the possibility of secondary school teachers being made redundant if their union rejects the Haddington Road Agreement for a second time.

The warning was previously issued by Mr Quinn in the Dáil after the first Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (Asti) vote on the deal in September. However, as its 16,000 members prepare to ballot again, with leadership recommending another no vote, he said the simple way to avoid a risk of redundancies was to sign up to the HRA.

“They chose to take a decision that took them out of the system of protection that was Croke Park and that has consequently put them at risk,” said Mr Quinn. “To avoid that situation, the very simple answer is to vote yes.”

As in other years, the Department of Education has circulated a list of schools with teacher numbers above staff-level ceilings to teacher unions and school management bodies.

It is understood that around 50 posts at almost 30 schools are involved, although a department spokesperson said that numbers can change depending on the final enrolment figures for this school year.

In normal circumstances, non-permanent teachers in such over-quota schools would be eligible for redeployment to another school. However, that would not apply to Asti members in the event that they vote no when their ballot result emerges in a fortnight, leaving them at risk of redundancy.

An Asti spokeswoman said the union has provided full information to its members on the implications of the Haddington Road ballot.

“This includes information on pay cuts, supervision and substitution, redeployment, and the possibility of redundancies,” said the spokeswoman. “The Asti will take strong action if any member is identified for redundancy.”

The union’s members face non-payment for supervision and substitution work already done this year if they sign up to the HRA. However, it was made clear in a letter from the department last week that although such duties up to the ballot outcome would be paid for if the deal is rejected, the financial losses associated with a no vote would be far greater.

In their industrial action over the last two months, Asti members have refused to take part in after-school meetings and are not taking part in training for the revised junior cycle.