ASTI conference: Teacher had to delay having children as illness due to pregnancy not covered

Julianne Butler at the ASTI annual conference in Killarney: 'I couldn't have any more children between my second and third because I had accrued so much sick leave from my first two pregnancies.'

A Limerick teacher says she was forced to delay having children because of pregnancy-related sickness, which is not taken into account in the sick leave scheme.

Speaking on a motion carried at the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) annual conference in Killarney, Julianne Butler said pregnancy-related sick leave “should not be within the same category” as other sick leave.