ASTI and TUI vote for Industrial Action

Alessandra

Teachers vote in favour of industrial action


The members of teacher unions the ASTI, INTO and TUI have voted to take industrial action, up to and including strike action, over the Government’s handling of the economic crisis.

In a joint statement tonight, the general secretaries of the three unions said the decision had been a difficult one for teachers who as well as facing difficult economic circumstances are well aware of the impact of the economic crisis on the communities in which they live and work.

The statement said the results showed clearly the anger of teachers at Government’s inequitable handling of the crisis.

Teachers want government to re-enter discussions to address the economic crisis with the ICTU on the basis that the burden must be shared by all sectors of society according to their means

The Irish Federation of University Teachers is expected to begin balloting its members on industrial action next week.

www.breakingnews.ie

Opinions? I am a sub and whilst I understand the need to strike don't want to lose another days pay:(
Don't know if the general public will be supportive?

DarkJager

I thought teachers were supposed to be intelligent. They will have zero support for this. What's the point in striking with the way things are at the moment? Patethic choice IMO.

Alessandra

Hmm teachers are unpopular with the general public. My colleagues are going to lose 500eu a month, kids in college, husbands lost jobs!! May not get anywhere but it's going to happen.

I reckon there will be 2 days, one the day of general public service strike day and another teachers strike day.

In my opinion

Strike one day last monday of the month. At least we will save the Gov a days wages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Powerhouse

Like all those who do a very important job in this society teachers are, naturally in this little backwater, utterly reviled. If they became millionaires by selling you something you neither needed nor wanted, while paying a small number of people the minimum wage, they would be eulogised.

Striking is not really an option for them - if we assume they are worried about PR. Though at another level you'd be inclined to ask why should they be bothered about PR since the government generally has them over a barrel on most matters relating to their work so what good is popularity?

The teachers should withdraw support for various things instead, e.g. whole school evaluations and all that 'going through the motions' nonsense. This would have the benefit for teachers of stopping their seemingly inexorable moved towards primarily being paper-pushers.

It also seems reasonable that if they were expected to provide greater productivity when given rises that the converse is also the case and some of the silly stuff that was introduced because the Minister wanted to look hard could now be kicked to touch.

spurious

I would be surprised if we went on a full strike.
The fact is, if teachers just did what they are paid to do, the schools and exam system would grind to a halt.

TheDriver

I am waiting for the usual postings from the anti teacher brigade here! Nearly all teachers don't want strike action but we are being left with very little choice, I find all my classes have increased a lot this year in size and hence more work correcting etc yet money being taken off us, not an easy road for us at all

byhookorbycrook

The strike, if it comes to that, will be part of the ICTU day of action.

Toto Wolfcastle

I was under the impression that the vote was more of a message to the government as to how far we are willing to go rather than a vote to actually strike. I doubt it will happen.

Nead21

DarkJager wrote: »

I thought teachers were supposed to be intelligent....Patethic choice IMO.

We are intelligent, that's why we can see that paying 4.8% of a net salary of €35,000 and 4.9% of net salary of €100,000 is clearly unfair!

IMO patethic implies just sitting back, accepting things that are not fair and doing nothing about it. It was a very difficult decision to make and i very much doubt that any teacher took it lightly.

Delphi91

Nead21 wrote: »

We are intelligent, that's why we can see that paying 4.8% of a net salary of €35,000 and 4.9% of net salary of €100,000 is clearly unfair!..

You may want to check those figures again.

According to here, the percentage of net income being paid on a €35,000 salary is either 5.86% or 6.08% depending on whether you started post- or pre-1995.

On a €100,000 salary it is 8.01% or 7.09%, again depending on when you started.

Nead21

Delphi91 wrote: »

You may want to check those figures again.

they are figures according to the INTO based on net salary

Delphi91

Nead21 wrote: »

they are figures according to the INTO based on net salary

One would have thought that since the three unions sent out the same ballot paper and seem to be acting in unison that they would be issuing the same factual information.

Coolio

As a sub also, I was annoyed that the ballot papers had all action(work-to-rule/non-cooperation/strike) all wrapped up in the one question for yes or no. I was hoping that we could choose the lesser options and avoid striking.

I feel the ballots all-or-nothing approach pushed teachers into the position we're now in. It's disappointing that the unions have failed to show any real understanding of the futility of striking.

It only works if there is public support for it (see Cork hurlers) or if you are capable of building sympathy with your stance(see pensioners).

Teachers have little support and certainly no sympathy!

Nead21

Coolio wrote: »

Teachers have little support and certainly no sympathy!

why do teachers get such a hard time in this country? there are other areas of the public service that have also voted for strike action if necessary.

i have been teaching for just 2 years and already im sick of justifying my job to people. It's these negative attitudes that make the education sector an easy target for the government to strip funds from.

(sorry about rant! )

sitstill

They've set a date for a one day strike - March 30th:

Press Statement - ASTI agrees on industrial action

The ASTI Standing Committee today decided to join with the other public service unions in taking strike action on March 30th. ASTI members recently voted to take strike action of up to two days.

The purpose of this action is to express the anger of ASTI members at the inequitable and unfair way in which the government is addressing the economic crisis.

Second-level schools are already reeling from the cutbacks announced in the budget which will mean loss of subjects in schools, larger class sizes, and the loss of up to 1,000 jobs in second-level schools. ASTI will also be discussing with the other teachers unions the implementation of a work to rule in schools in the short term.

As an expression of our solidarity with young teachers, the ASTI will be calling special branch meetings and will be holding a special national conference of young teachers in May.

Ends

wingnut

Am I right in saying you don't get paid for strike days? How does it work if you are not in a union? Our P and DP are in the ASTI so they will be striking. . As the school is closed there will be no kids to teach. So I presume with no one to keep track non union teachers will get paid?

Trotter

Looks like we're in too. How will this actually work? Will there be a designated point in a city for teachers to gather, or what actually happens?

rainbowtrout

wingnut wrote: »

Am I right in saying you don't get paid for strike days? How does it work if you are not in a union? Our P and DP are in the ASTI so they will be striking. . As the school is closed there will be no kids to teach. So I presume with no one to keep track non union teachers will get paid?

I would have thought that non union teachers should not get docked pay as they are not officially striking but effectively their workplace is shut down.

As far as I know, TUI have some sort of bursary to reimburse striking members, not the full whack but a small part of it. ASTI members get nothing.

Trotter wrote: »

Looks like we're in too. How will this actually work? Will there be a designated point in a city for teachers to gather, or what actually happens?

I would have thought teachers would strike outside their own school. There's only one secondary school in the town I work in so I thought for us it would be the logical choice.

DarkJager

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is a pointless excercise. I'm not sure what teachers are hoping to achieve with this, but I would highly doubt there will be any support from the public. Whats needed in times like this is reasonable level headed discussion, not throwing your toys out of the pram like a bunch of spoilt children.

gaeilgegrinds

The two teachers in our school not in any union have decided to call in sick, not sure what other option they had but said they had not option.

wingnut

Well I'll be away on an ECA activity with students on that day. Not an option to cancel as it falls in the middle of a two week trip abroad. So technically I will be working, just not in school. Unless I leave the kids to their own devices that day!

spurious

I'll be in Poland with a group of kids on the 30th.

Powerhouse

DarkJager wrote: »

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is a pointless excercise. I'm not sure what teachers are hoping to achieve with this, but I would highly doubt there will be any support from the public. Whats needed in times like this is reasonable level headed discussion, not throwing your toys out of the pram like a bunch of spoilt children.

Without knowing what they are trying to achieve it is difficult to say that it's a pointless exercise.

Presumably what they are trying to achieve is to exert political pressure on the government parties not to sink their teeth into the profession any more than they already have done. If they appear to be a soft target they will be detroyed by giddy politicians in the coming year when the real pressure comes on.

As for public support, there are - according to the national newspapers -60,000 teachers, so I'd say that in itself qualifies as "public support" to enough of a degree to discommode a few politicians, even if you'll always have the stiff upper-lipped few in all industries who will always be against any protest, and dimiss it as pointless because the benefits are not immediately tangible.

It is fine to say that "what's needed in times like this is reasonable level headed discussion" but this ignores the fact that teachers have been handed a fair accompli and have never been invited to take part in any discussion never mind a reasonable level-headed one. I have no doubt that teachers would be absolutely interested in a reasonable level-headed discussion were that option available.

Delphi91

Nead21 wrote: »

why do teachers get such a hard time in this country? there are other areas of the public service that have also voted for strike action if necessary...

Simple - all people see is a 22 hour week, 3 months off in the summer, two weeks at Easter/Christmas and 167 days of work throughout the year. And dare we protest about anything given the above scenario.

They also think that standing up in front of a class of 25-30 kids is a doddle.

And whatever we do, we should never inconvenience parents by going on strike or taking half days, etc because for a number of parents (and I'm going to get flak for this but 22 years at the chalkface has convinced me of this) we are the childminding service.

Coolio

It's a bit regrettable that our unions asked us to vote on a range of options with the end-game being a strike.

We are now portrayed in the media as being strike-happy. What happened to the work-to-rule/ non-co-operation? Why the need to jump straight in at the deep-end? It was asked of us to approve action up to and including strike, not only strike. Having seen the ballot paper, I felt all along that all the unions wanted was to strike.

I've said it already, it's completely pointless. All it will do is take more money out of teachers pockets for their strike day.

What's this lark about a special convention for young teachers? What? All the unemployed ones? What are they going to do for us? A PR exercise is all that'll be.

positivenote

speaking as a TUI member, i for one dont believe that this strike will achieve anything at all. Its difficult enough as it is getting the syllabus covered in the 12 week semester without having to cancel classes for another day. The students are ultimately losing out here, why not hold back the marking/writing of exams or something else other than striking?

Nead21

ok i just got my payslip.....and i can only describe it as being savaged!!

tbh honest i am finding it very hard to keep up the motivation when our wages are being cut and the ministers are giving themselves €2000 and €3000 pay increases!

the atmosphere in my school this morning is notably depressed.

Delphi91

Nead21 wrote: »

..tbh honest i am finding it very hard to keep up the motivation when our wages are being cut and the ministers are giving themselves €2000 and €3000 pay increases!..

I'm not trying to defend them, but they got service increments after so many years in the Dail (7 I think). Teachers will still be getting their annual increments as I understand it, just not pay rises under pay agreements - someone correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Powerhouse

Coolio wrote: »

It's a bit regrettable that our unions asked us to vote on a range of options with the end-game being a strike.

We are now portrayed in the media as being strike-happy. What happened to the work-to-rule/ non-co-operation? Why the need to jump straight in at the deep-end? It was asked of us to approve action up to and including strike, not only strike. Having seen the ballot paper, I felt all along that all the unions wanted was to strike.

I've said it already, it's completely pointless. All it will do is take more money out of teachers pockets for their strike day.

What's this lark about a special convention for young teachers? What? All the unemployed ones? What are they going to do for us? A PR exercise is all that'll be.

I think this is being a bit short-sighted. Worrying about taking a day's pay from teachers is small beer compared to what might be in store if it is clear that the unions are easy pickings for the government.

That is probably why the unions do not propose work to rule or non-cooperation initiatives as it would give the government a good PR position to be able to tear into what appears to be one of the most reviled groups in Irish society, while on the moral high-ground. Don't think for a moment that this would be kept as a little in-house victimless feud - the government's spin-doctors would see to that.

For teachers, quite frankly, the whole business is PR neutral. What happens of you get some bad PR? People stop buying your product? Or move to a competitor? I don't get why some teachers are so worried about public support. The "company" teachers work for (Dept of Ed) has a monopoly on provision of education - so why is public support so important?

What happens even if teachers get good PR? The salaries increase? Permanent contracts emerge where they wouldn't have been expected to? Let's get real here - you still have three months holidays and shorter hours than any other group.......how good is the PR actually going to get?

What the unions are doing is like a defender in a GAA match doing his job............they might not get much credit because things that are prevented don't show up on the scoresheet but it might be important to keep doing it nonetheless.

nesf

Seriously why strike. The country's screwed financially and we need to cut spending and unfortunately that'll include salaries for public servants. Haven't you people been paying attention to the tax receipts since the New Year? Without cuts we'll be down over 20 billion Euro. Our entire expenditure will be 60 billion. An dthuigeann sibh?

Zero support from me and serious dislike of the strain you people will be putting on working parents and the loss of a day for any students sitting a State exam this year.

dolliemix

Nesf

Are you a parent of a child with special needs?

Hundreds, perhaps thousands of children around the country will no longer have access to the resources or facilities that they require. (as recognised by the Department itself)

These cut backs are hitting the most vulnerable in our education system.

I think a strike is the last resort towards a Government who isn't listening.

One day of disruption, imo, is worth it, if we are seen to be showing these children and their parents that we support them. These cutbacks will effect these children for a lifetime (not for just one day!)

These children have done nothing wrong. They didn't borrow money they didn't have. They didn't abuse the bank system. Why should they pay for it? They've lost their chance of education because there will be no resources to help them when they return to school in September, if they even can return.

It's so unfair.

This is not a strike about pay. Teachers have already taken a pay cut. It's about basic human rights so that every child in this country is given equal opportunities.

nesf

dolliemix wrote: »

Nesf

Are you a parent of a child with special needs?

Hundreds, perhaps thousands of children around the country will no longer have access to the resources or facilities that they require. (as recognised by the Department itself)

These cut backs are hitting the most vulnerable in our education system.

I think a strike is the last resort towards a Government who isn't listening.

One day of disruption, imo, is worth it, if we are seen to be showing these children and their parents that we support them. These cutbacks will effect these children for a lifetime (not for just one day!)

These children have done nothing wrong. They didn't borrow money they didn't have. They didn't abuse the bank system. Why should they pay for it? They've lost their chance of education because there will be no resources to help them when they return to school in September, if they even can return.

It's so unfair.

This is not a strike about pay. Teachers have already taken a pay cut. It's about basic human rights so that every child in this country is given equal opportunities.

We're short a third of the entire bloody budget. Services that are both good and needed will have to be trimmed back until we get the fiscal situation under control. Seriously, people who have done nothing wrong are going to feel pain over this no matter what way we cut it. We've had an enormous expansion of special needs assistants over the past decade (much needed we'll all agree) but it was done with income streams that were transitory and now they are gone. There is no way to undo this or conjure up 20 billion in revenue to fill the gap. The money just isn't in the economy.

TheDriver

so explain why bank staff got a pay rise just after we had to bail them out or how come we have to pay a higher pension contribution and income levy and be faced with more cuts while our classes are becoming way bigger hence more corrections and the like and as a consequence, less time spent with the kids individually. Teachers like most public servants are annoyed. Govt needs to tackle problems e.g. how come exam correctors have expenses cut 25% and ministers are only 10% cut?

Powerhouse

nesf wrote: »

We're short a third of the entire bloody budget. Services that are both good and needed will have to be trimmed back until we get the fiscal situation under control. Seriously, people who have done nothing wrong are going to feel pain over this no matter what way we cut it. We've had an enormous expansion of special needs assistants over the past decade (much needed we'll all agree) but it was done with income streams that were transitory and now they are gone. There is no way to undo this or conjure up 20 billion in revenue to fill the gap. The money just isn't in the economy.

Two things, one - teachers going to school on March 30th will not provide the third of the budget that's required, and two - the government simply cannot keep cutting, it simply has to generate revenue. In that context the government needs to come up with new revenue streams and to regenerate some of the old ones.

And if you want a third thing there's the small matter that it is the middle income earners who pay the most tax. That also has to be addressed in the context of getting revenue streams back on the rails.

But the idea that cutting alone will solve Ireland's problems is fanciful. In fact the longer the government gets away with that fiction, the worse things will be.

TheDriver

Does the govt just not want to tackle the real issue, Govt themselves is costing the country a lot of money and not the people working for it. Expenses, committees etc are unbelivable expensive to run

nesf

Powerhouse wrote: »

But the idea that cutting alone will solve Ireland's problems is fanciful. In fact the longer the government gets away with that fiction, the worse things will be.

Sure, we need both cuts and new taxes but they're not going to be able to make 20 billion in taxes just appear. Everyone wants the cuts and taxes to effect someone else. This is perfectly understandable but given the scale of the problem they're not going to be able to solve it by bumping up the top rate of tax and disbanding loads of committees and Quangos.

Edit: Just to put this in perspective: We could close down every hospital in the country and fire everyone paid by the Department of Health and shut down every school in the country and fire everyone paid by the Department of Education and still be short money to cover the budget deficit at the end of the year (and this is not taking into account that all of these people would be put on the dole and would create more expenditure that would need to be covered, if you take that into account you can probably throw in the Gardaí, Defence and Agricultural Departments as well into the the closures).

Delphi91

nesf wrote: »

...We've had an enormous expansion of special needs assistants over the past decade (much needed we'll all agree)...

Is that your impression or are you basing it on fact?

nesf

Delphi91 wrote: »

Is that your impression or are you basing it on fact?

From 300 to 18,000 people hired in the scheme from 1998 to 2008, from the Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0905/1220544893198.html

An enormous expansion of numbers no?

Delphi91

nesf wrote: »

From 300 to 18,000 people hired in the scheme from 1998 to 2008, from the Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0905/1220544893198.html

An enormous expansion of numbers no?

Yes, it looks like it "on paper". It might be worth asking any Principals/Deputy Principals who post on here if they get all the SNA's that their students are entitled to. Because I know that we don't.

Are you aware that an SNA does not follow with a student from primary to second level? You have to re-apply all over again for an SNA despite the fact that testing and your experience of the childs abilities clearly shows that one is required. Even with psychological reports from NEPS (National Educational Psychological Service) stating that a child is entitled to an SNA, they are often refused. I am aware of students who arrive in second level whose level of literacy is so low that they are below the lowest testable age (6 years old!) and they still don't get SNAs.

You might have a class of, say, 15 students, all of whom have been recommended to have an SNA, and maybe one or two get them. They are then assigned to that student alone and are not supposed to help the other students in the class.

If a student with an SNA in that class leaves, the SNA cannot be transferred to another student. Their post dies.

The rise from 300 to 18,000, which at face value appears to be a huge rise, is not a true reflection of the numbers of SNAs that are actually required in many schools.

nesf

Delphi91 wrote: »

Yes, it looks like it "on paper". It might be worth asking any Principals/Deputy Principals who post on here if they get all the SNA's that their students are entitled to. Because I know that we don't.

Are you aware that an SNA does not follow with a student from primary to second level? You have to re-apply all over again for an SNA despite the fact that testing and your experience of the childs abilities clearly shows that one is required. Even with psychological reports from NEPS (National Educational Psychological Service) stating that a child is entitled to an SNA, they are often refused. I am aware of students who arrive in second level whose level of literacy is so low that they are below the lowest testable age (6 years old!) and they still don't get SNAs.

You might have a class of, say, 15 students, all of whom have been recommended to have an SNA, and maybe one or two get them. They are then assigned to that student alone and are not supposed to help the other students in the class.

If a student with an SNA in that class leaves, the SNA cannot be transferred to another student. Their post dies.

The rise from 300 to 18,000, which at face value appears to be a huge rise, is not a true reflection of the numbers of SNAs that are actually required in many schools.

Quite possibly, my sister worked as one where she was dealing with three separate small rural schools. I don't disagree that the system is very far from ideal.

The problem is one of money and funding. There are a multitude of good causes and not enough cash to go around, such is Politics. We don't have the money to provide the perfect SNA system without taking it away from other areas that are equally deserving of it. Christ, we were spending €300 million just to get the SNA system we had in 2008, which again I'm sure we'll all agree wasn't good enough. In total €820 million was put towards Special Needs Education in 2007, an increase of 30% over the amount put towards it in 2006. We've been throwing money at the problem and it hasn't done enough. We've not been getting a good return on our money (as pointed out by you there aren't enough SNAs to go around etc). In contrast the entire current expenditure on the Gardaí was only €1.3 billion in 2007. Somehow we've been spending well over half the entire budget for the Gardaí on Special Needs Education and still not getting a good deal.

Piste

dolliemix wrote: »

This is not a strike about pay. Teachers have already taken a pay cut. It's about basic human rights so that every child in this country is given equal opportunities.

Opportunities like say....having the monday before our Irish orals to go over last minute practice with our tea-oh wait no we can't you'll be on strike.

Out of all the days in the week why did the unions pick that particular Monday? I realise it's the public sector and not just the teachers, but do they not realise that thousands of students will be stressing over their orals and will not be very happy about having one less day of help from teachers.

It pretty much throws it the claim that these strikes are "for the children". Whatever aboutt he strike being "right" or "wrong", from a PR point of view it's very silly as you'll have a lot of unsympathetic LC students and their parents.

Toto Wolfcastle

Piste wrote: »

Opportunities like say....having the monday before our Irish orals to go over last minute practice with our tea-oh wait no we can't you'll be on strike.

Out of all the days in the week why did the unions pick that particular Monday? I realise it's the public sector and not just the teachers, but do they not realise that thousands of students will be stressing over their orals and will not be very happy about having one less day of help from teachers.

It pretty much throws it the claim that these strikes are "for the children". Whatever aboutt he strike being "right" or "wrong", from a PR point of view it's very silly as you'll have a lot of unsympathetic LC students and their parents.

I can guarantee you that many teachers are not at all happy about this. One guy I teach with has been told to fit all 93 French oral candidates into 4 days, which is impossible. Both the teacher and the students will undoubtedly suffer. Another teacher, our school steward, has opted not to examine the German orals because she feels that the pressure will be far too much. She is expected to examine in 6 schools in 4 days.

I would gladly march at the weekend. I am in no way in favour of disrupting the orals, or any other part of school life. When I received the badly-worded ballot paper, I asked a few people if they thought industrial action would be taken. I was told by all of them that the ASTI had said it would be the last resort, and that it was merely about sending a message to the government about how serious we are.

I have since found out from some teachers in the INTO that they were aware that they were voting for a definite strike. A lot of the teachers that I work with feel like we were betrayed by the ASTI. We were simply given incorrect information.

As far as I'm concerned, the students will suffer enough disruption because of the cutbacks. There is no need to protest on a school day. A far better plan of action would be to stop getting medical certs for 1 or 2 day absences. A lot of people are getting certs to save the dwindling funds. I say let the government deal with the fact that they made a huge mistake by allowing the money to run out long before the end of the school year.

Or take as much of my money as you want but put it back into education where it is desperately needed.

nesf

What I don't get is why your unions don't organise things so that Leaving Cert classes run as normal. All the disruption with all the PR benefits of looking responsible.

janeybabe wrote:

I have since found out from some teachers in the INTO that they were aware that they were voting for a definite strike. A lot of the teachers that I work with feel like we were betrayed by the ASTI. We were simply given incorrect information.

Seriously, teaching unions are among the most strike happy of all public service unions (well, no the INO is probably more militant). You should have known that "last resort" in ANTI terms was at best a euphemism for "what we plan on doing".

dolliemix

Piste wrote: »

Opportunities like say....having the monday before our Irish orals to go over last minute practice with our tea-oh wait no we can't you'll be on strike.

Out of all the days in the week why did the unions pick that particular Monday? I realise it's the public sector and not just the teachers, but do they not realise that thousands of students will be stressing over their orals and will not be very happy about having one less day of help from teachers.

It pretty much throws it the claim that these strikes are "for the children". Whatever aboutt he strike being "right" or "wrong", from a PR point of view it's very silly as you'll have a lot of unsympathetic LC students and their parents.

You've had SIX YEARS of tuition from your teacher!

I am an oral irish examiner and an Irish teacher. Believe me - this is a nightmare for us. I've been told that I have to examine the same amount of candidates (91) in four days now and not five.

If your oral had been arranged for the Monday, you would not have had the benefit of your teacher the day before anyway.

At this stage, my Leaving Cert students and I reckon it's probably a good thing for them. They've the benefit of one extra day to go over notes, watch TG4 all day, meet up with friends and practice speaking more Irish. If you had school on Monday, you'd be attending other classes, getting homework and basically having less time to work on your Irish.

To be honest, by next weekend, you should be going over everything, not trying to learn anything new. Use it as an opportunity or even a bonus.

If you are feeling very stressed about it let your Irish teacher know this coming Monday.

I think students and their parents should be looking at the whole picture. These cutbacks and introduction of college fees are going to have a huge effect on third level education next year and the year after.

When you're mid-way through a degree course in two or three years and are told it wont be continuing due to lack of funding, the fact that you didn't get to see your teacher the Monday before your Irish oral exam will seem completely insignificant. But that is basically what is happening up and down the country for children with special needs.

If the Government continue to target education in order to sort out the financial mess this country is in - you and all Leaving Cert students will be hit in a more painful way in the future. When fees start coming in and rising year after year, you will understand why it is, that teachers and members of the general public are so angry.

I didn't want to strike either and I certainly don't want any of my students to feel under any more pressure than they already are. But it is a necessary evil at this moment in time for your future, more so than ours!

Ar aon nós go n-éirí leat sa scrúdú béil

Toto Wolfcastle

nesf wrote: »

Seriously, teaching unions are among the most strike happy of all public service unions (well, no the INO is probably more militant). You should have known that "last resort" in ANTI terms was at best a euphemism for "what we plan on doing".

I 'should have known' nothing. I believe what I am told by the union I pay to represent me. And anyway, I agree with you that this shouldn't be happening. No need to get on my back about it just because I'm a teacher.

nesf

janeybabe wrote: »

I 'should have known' nothing. I believe what I am told by the union I pay to represent me. And anyway, I agree with you that this shouldn't be happening. No need to get on my back about it just because I'm a teacher.

Not on your back at all. Just recommending more cynicism when dealing with ANTI.

Toto Wolfcastle

nesf wrote: »

Not on your back at all. Just recommending more cynicism when dealing with ANTI.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks. This first year of teaching has taught me a lot....and my opinion of the unions has changed an awful lot.

nesf

janeybabe wrote: »

I'll keep that in mind, thanks. This first year of teaching has taught me a lot....and my opinion of the unions has changed an awful lot.

They have their constituency, you just need to keep that in mind and are not necessarily run by your average teacher/nurse/whatever. Often, a bit like politicians, unions will do things (i.e. strike) just to be seen to be doing something to represent their members.

E.T.

nesf wrote: »

Seriously, teaching unions are among the most strike happy of all public service unions (well, no the INO is probably more militant). You should have known that "last resort" in ANTI terms was at best a euphemism for "what we plan on doing".

Where did you get that idea from? When was the last time ALL of the teachers unions in Ireland went on strike? It's not just teachers going on strike, it's a variety of unions, so why single out teachers here?

nesf

E.T. wrote: »

It's not just teachers going on strike, it's a variety of unions, so why single out teachers here?

Well, this thread is specifically about the ASTI and TUI going on strike, so to talk about other unions would be off-topic no?