Teachers to go on work-to-rule as unions step up levy protest
A partial work-to-rule by all second-level teachers will begin on Tuesday, March 31 -- the day after they take part in a national public sector stoppage organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
The action is being taken because of anger over the Government's economic policies.
Both the ASTI and TUI have directed their members in second-level schools to withdraw from the following activities at the end of the month:
- Parent/teacher meetings outside of school time.
- Staff meetings outside of school time.
- School development planning meetings.
Sources say the action will cause limited disruption but would be very serious if it continued into the next school year, starting in September.
The main parent/teacher and planning meetings for the current academic year have already been held.
TUI general secretary Peter MacMenamin and ASTI general secretary John White said teachers were demonstrating their anger at the Government's inequitable and unfair handling of the current economic crisis, the pensions levy and the education cutbacks.
"Teachers are at the heart of their communities and fully understand the devastating effect the crisis is having on the lives of those who are losing their jobs. However, we believe that there is a fairer, better way to deal with the crisis which clearly places the greater burden on those most able to bear it," they said.
The INTO has yet to finalise how its proposed work to rule will operate in primary schools. The union is supporting the one-day stoppage, as is the Irish Federation of University Teachers.
The unions say that if the Government enters talks with Congress, it is unlikely that the strike on March 30 will go ahead.
Margin
The university lecturers voted by a margin of 67.7pc in favour of the stoppage.
General secretary of IFUT, Mike Jennings said that the ballot represented "the reluctant determination of IFUT members to register the strongest possible protest against the Government's handling of the economic crisis".
"This ballot is a clear message to the Government from university staff. It says we will take our share of the pain but only in the context of a national agreement which is fair to all," said Mr Jennings.
- JOHN WALSHE
