IPPN

Published: 16 April 2009

Source: independent.ie

By Katherine Donnelly, John Walshe and Ralph Riegel

Thursday April 16 2009

PUPILS face massive disruption in the day-to-day running of their schools this September as teachers ramp up their rejection of Government cutbacks.

In another angry day at the annual union conferences yesterday, primary and second-level teachers hardened their position on industrial action.

The outcome of social partnership talks, which resume next week, will determine whether the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) gives the go-ahead for any day of action.

But teachers are poised to take matters into their own hands, as emergency motions relating to cuts in teachers' pay and conditions were yesterday debated by all three teachers' conferences.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) have now adopted a raft of motions giving them a free hand to take individual action.

Meanwhile, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) will make its decision today. The three teacher unions, in common with other public service unions, also have mandates for up to two days' strike action in protest at the Government's handling of the economic crisis.

Jeering

Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe felt the full force of the hostility in his native Cork, when he was drowned out by jeering delegates at the TUI conference. Some delegates walked out.

TUI president Don Ryan told Mr O'Keeffe that his explanations for the cuts were of "the dog ate my homework variety".

The 800 primary teachers at the INTO yesterday said that it is not their intention to impact directly on teaching and learning, but there will be inevitable side effects to their actions.

They plan to refuse to co-operate with a range of administrative tasks, and not to fill in for certain posts left empty by a recruitment embargo. The beleaguered Mr O'Keeffe has faced all three unions over the past two days and received a frosty reception from delegates.

But last night he appealed to teachers to use "common sense" before proceeding with threats of industrial action.

He said teachers needed to think long and hard about the consequences of strike action on classrooms nationwide.

But even as he was speaking at the TUI in Cork, the INTO delegates in Donegal were engaged in an unanimous vote, supporting industrial action.

Embargo

They unanimously condemned the cap on teacher numbers and the embargo on filling posts, including assistant principal jobs, leaving about 700 promotional posts in primary schools vacant next year.

The INTO will not do any of the work associated with these posts, such as co-ordinating sports activities and special needs requirements, and developing polices on behaviour or attendance.

Neither will they return data to the Department of Education or the National Educational Welfare Board.

They also decided not to co-operate on a range of othe0r administrative duties, the details of which will be agreed at a special conference to take place in either May or June.

INTO president Maire Ni Chuinneagain said the embargo on posts will affect school leadership.

"There are many duties and complex tasks that need to be done in schools. Government is not going to get this work done for nothing," she said.

Members of ASTI also displayed their fury when they rejected a motion deploring the public service pension levy, claiming that the wording of the motion was too mild.

Delegates forced the union's Standing Committee to meet in special session last evening to come up with forms of action that will have an impact without hurting pupils. These will be discussed today.

- Katherine Donnelly, John Walshe and Ralph Riegel