Teacher unions say state lacked courage [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 05 December 2009
TEACHER unions have warned of inevitable industrial unrest, with one leader accusing the Government of lacking moral courage to reach agreement on public service pay savings.
Peter MacMenamin, general secretary of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), said an agreement seemed to have been in place that would have allowed for considerable savings and public service reform, while providing a period of agreement in the absence of industrial unrest.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
Regulation of school patronage urged [IrishTimes]
- Published: 04 December 2009
EDUCATE TOGETHER, the multi-denominational school body, has called on the State to examine its lack of regulation of patrons of schools.
Yesterday it published a manual for school patronage, which it hopes will “start a public discussion around issues of best practice in patronage in Irish education”.
The manual outlines the legal role of a patron in Irish education and provides guidance for those who work, volunteer or learn in an Educate Together school. The group said it looked forward to the publication of similar policies by other patrons, and to “considerable debate on these issues”.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Extra hour sought from teachers [IrishTimes]
- Published: 04 December 2009
TEACHERS AND third-level academic staff are being asked to work an additional hour every week under proposals tabled in current talks between the Government and public service unions.
The proposals – drawn up by senior Department of Education officials – echo those made in the McCarthy report.
This was scathing about teacher contracts at second level and work practices in the institutes of technology.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Public sector not carrying its share of our burden [Independent.ie]
- Published: 04 December 2009
THERE are many claims flying around concerning the pay gap between the public and private sectors and the changes in wages and earnings in the two sectors to date.
Some say that the private sector has taken all the pain of the ongoing economic crisis, with figures of 30pc to 40pc pay cuts quoted, and massive layoffs.
Others claim that the public sector has taken its share of necessary adjustments, pointing to the imposition of the levy on pensions. The more extreme view from the second group is that the public sector has experienced real pay cuts, while the private sector is enjoying stable or even rising wages.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Teachers could work hour a week for free [Independent.ie]
- Published: 04 December 2009
TEACHERS and college lecturers would work an extra hour a week for nothing from next September under public service reform proposals being discussed between Government and unions.
The measure would pump at least 65,000 extra hours per week from the key professionals into the education system.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
