Quinn and the teachers avoid mutually assured destruction — for now [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 29 April 2011
THE concept of mutually assured destruction (MAD) ensured the world was safe from nuclear war during the Cold War as each side knew that pushing the red button would trigger the same response from their opponents.
Although not quite as grave, a similar scenario emerged this week as the leaders of two teacher unions were told by conference delegates they must ballot the full membership on industrial action if the Government does not fulfil its guarantee in the Croke Park agreement of no compulsory redundancies or further pay cuts. This follows warnings to public servants from a number of ministers earlier this month that the pay question would be revisited if they do not deliver reforms and efficiencies they committed to providing under the deal.
The motions passed by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) would see such a move triggering a strike vote. In the TUI’s case, this would even be done if the coalition cited the "unforeseen economic circumstances" clause of Croke Park which could allow them make more cuts to pay, something most public servants must surely have feared strongly after the EU and IMF landed on our shores before Christmas.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Retirees working part-time costing €1,000 a week extra [IrishTimes]
- Published: 29 April 2011
ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY TEACHERS IRELAND: RETIRED teachers hired to do part-time work in schools are costing taxpayers up to €1,000 per week, secondary school teachers were told at their annual conference yesterday.
Bernard Moynihan, Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) industrial relations officer, said this was the estimated additional cost of taking on a retired teacher – compared with that involved in hiring a new entrant to the profession. The differential is that between the new, reduced entry level pay rate and the rate for a retired teacher at the top of the increment scale.
There has been growing controversy about the decision by many school principals to rely on retired teachers to fill part-time vacancies despite the jobs crisis among newly qualified teachers and the huge availability of part-time teachers. More than 25 per cent of all members of the union are part-time or temporary teachers.
More than 1,000 retired teachers worked in primary and second-level schools last year, according to the most recent estimates. Mr Moynihan said it was very difficult to understand how school management cannot secure substitute teachers from the large pool available.
He also warned the Government the union was ready to take legal action under the Unfair Dismissals Act if any attempt was made to replace teachers on their second, third or fourth non-permanent contracts. In their first contract year, teachers do not enjoy the protection of the Act.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Publishers criticised over change to textbooks [IrishTimes]
- Published: 29 April 2011
TEACHERS' UNION OF IRELAND: MINISTER FOR Education Ruairí Quinn has promised to examine the practice by publishing companies of frequently issuing new editions of schoolbooks amid concerns that parents are finding themselves under pressure financially to ensure their children have the latest version of texts.
Mr Quinn said the issue had been raised with him by teachers at both the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland annual conference in Cork and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) annual congress in Tralee. He recognised there was genuine concern that it was causing hardship for families already struggling with the impact of the recession.
“I have no immediate plans to meet with the publishers but this has been raised at two trade union congresses. I’m a Labour Party member and Minister of the Government and we came here to listen, we have heard what they said, it is now a responsibility for us to look at their concerns and see what can we do about it, if we can,” he said.
Union president Bernie Ruane said she had been contacted by the St Vincent de Paul and she shared the charity’s concern that the practice of constantly issuing new editions of school texts was putting unnecessary expense on parents.
“Parents are now seeking help from St Vincent de Paul to buy schoolbooks for their children. These are not necessarily parents who are unemployed and who have medical cards. These are parents who have suddenly been hit by this recession and cannot cope with the ever-increasing price of schoolbooks,” she said.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Union boss vows to defend non-permanent staff [Independent.ie]
- Published: 29 April 2011
THE Government will face immediate legal action if it attempts to replace teachers who currently hold long-time contracts, but who have not secured permanent status, writes Ralph Riegel.
The warning came as the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) also hit out at the practice of school principals using retired teachers for substitute duties. ASTI industrial relations officer, Bernard Moynihan, said it is estimated that almost 1,000 retired teachers were hired by school principals in 2010/2011.
In each case, the school involved has to pay teachers, who have retired, at the highest end of the pay-scale -- in contrast to younger teachers who are usually at the lowest end of the pay-scale. Mr Moynihan also warned that the ASTI will take legal steps if any action is taken to replace teachers who are on their second, third or fourth non-permanent contracts.
Teachers on their first set-term employment contract are not covered by the Unfair Dismissals Act. Teachers on their second, third and fourth set-term contract are usually awaiting the securing of permanent status at the school involved.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Little girl's death motivates defibrillator campaign [Independent.ie]
- Published: 28 April 2011
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl who died when her heart stopped on a class day out has inspired a campaign to equip all schools with life-saving defibrillators.
It was only after Becky Whelan's death last June that her parents, Vincent and Brigid-Ann, discovered she was suffering from a rare heart condition called Long QT Syndrome.
Becky, from Carrick-on-Suir, Co Waterford, was just minutes from a hospital when the incident occurred, but it wasn't close enough to save her.
Now her family is urging all schools to make the life-saving device a must-have.
Becky's old school, Crehana, outside Carrick-on-Suir, is one of six in the area that now have defibrillators and staff are being trained in their use.
Becky's aunt, Breda Fitzgerald, is principal of one of those schools, Newtown Upper, and raised the issue at the Irish National Teachers Organisation conference, where she was a delegate.
"Becky was engaged in low-level physical activity when her heart stopped and sadly she didn't recover," Ms Fitzgerald said. "She was in Waterford city and only three minutes from the hospital. The teachers reacted straight away."
Full Story: www.independent.ie
