Union leaders criticised for their 'pathetic' pension levy response [independent.ie]
- Published: 16 April 2009
Source: independent.ie
By John Walshe Education Editor
Thursday April 16 2009
TEACHERS yesterday criticised their union leaders for going too easy on the pension levy.
An emergency motion demanding tougher action over the levy will now go before a private session of the ASTI convention this morning.
Delegates meeting in Killarney blasted a motion that was simply "deploring" the levy, saying the wording of it was too mild.
They 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 this morning. Bernard Lynch from the Dublin South 1 branch said the pension levy was despicable and immoral.
"The debate should focus on what we are going to do about it," said Mr Lynch, who also lashed out at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, saying it had betrayed teachers.
He said the only response of ICTU was to urge public servants to lobby TDs, which was the "last refuge".
Sean Fallon from the same branch said some teachers were forced to get a second job because they had a big mortgage to pay. He criticised the "pathetic response" of the union's standing committee. And he added teachers should withdraw from everything they were not contracted for.
Former president John Hurley, from Limerick South, said he had recently retired on a good pension because of work done by the union's head office, union officials and ICTU. He was opposed to the levy but said there had to be balance in the debate. He said he did not have to worry about how shares fared, unlike those in the private sector.
Mark Walshe from the Bray branch said he had little confidence any new motion from the standing committee would have the plan of action necessary. "My preference is for a one-day national stoppage before the holidays," he added.
Another former president, Shelia Parsons, said the levy was the worst thing that had happened to teachers.
"We have been left leaderless and headless," she said, adding that ICTU was an absolute disgrace. She said its silence on the pensions issue was deafening. "How long do we remain silent and downtrodden?" she asked delegates.
- John Walshe Education Editor
