closure of Adult Refugee Programme

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It was announced on Wednesday that the Adult Refugee Programme (ARP) was to be closed at the end of December this year. This is a nationwide programme solely for adult refugees and is designed to allow them access upto 6 months of language and socialisation classes in order for them to progress into either Further Education or hopefully enter the workforce. Students nationwide enrolled in September for what they thought would be a 6 month course leading to a FETAC certification instead they are being excluded after only 4 months. As of yet there has been no announcement as to what, if any, alternatives will be made available for the students.
Ironically the announcement was made on the same day that the Tanaiste gave assurances to the visiting UN Commissioner for Refugees that there would be no material differences in terms of Irish provision for refugees either at home or abroad.
All seems extremely shortsighted, to be taking away routes away from social welfare dependency to save a few euro in the immediate term.

longlooker

Hi

Yes, pity about that and greater pity that none of use are shouting about t! Just informed by a colleague that the tutors are being offered 'enhanced' redundancies. We smell a rat! Does accepting redundancy mean that we can never go back to the VEC again? Does accepting redundancy mean that in the event of hours being offered again that we start at year 1 - I have worked in the VEC for just over 2 years and was praying that I would make it to 4 for a CID but now am facing redundancy. What do I do. My manager cannot be approached. Hr are also unapproachable......anyone else out there with the same. Redundancy for people like me is automatic, we are told.

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hi longlooker
this is the first I heard of enhanced redundancies, since the announcement was made to me by the principal of the school I operate from I have heard nothing from the TUI, relevant VEC of the national coordinator of the ARP. I have been trying to get my union to sort out a CID ( have been with the VEC on this programme since Aug 2008) but all seemed to be enjoying the midterm break !!
Some friends have informed me that I should get some offer of redundancy as I have worked longer than 104 continous weeks, but cannot get any confirmation on this. I feel that the staff on the ARP nationwide have been left down by the ARP, their respective VECs and the TUI. And the silence as to what happens to the students who were told they are on a 6 month course which is now closing after 4 months, never mind those on waiting lists to get onto any of the planned future courses is deafening.
I understand there is a case by some teachers against their VEC, changing their employment status from teacher to tutor when they were moved to the ARP in Feb of 2009, which will be heard in the Labour court presently, perhaps if they are successful and reinstated as teachers the TUI, VEC and Dept of Ed. will explain why teachers are being made redundant.

longlooker

Hi

You are eligible for a CID after 4 years and should send a letter to your hr dept, so, I say, do not accept redundancy until you get word on your CID. The LRC is being heard later this month. ' enhanced, redundancy has been bandied about a few Vec's and we have heard it from colleagues elsewhere. Yes, you are entitled to redundancy after 104,but, your CID is more valuable to you. How many hours per week did you work on Arp in your 4th year , for you, this is aug 2011 to aug 2012. Don' t let this go!!!!! I agree, the TUI, VEC and ARP have let us all down by not giving us information and keeping us in the dark. One rule for them.....I wonder why I bother to pay union fees....now I remember why, to keep the fat cats fat

Peteypike

www.labourcourt.ie/labour/labcourtweb.../80256a770034a2ab80257b4400


This may be of interest to ex ARP tutors...the labour court case has had its recommendations published. Google, roisin Leslie labour court. Will unions now start looking for same status for those of us who lost jobs and those who didn't but continue to be discriminated

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Hi Peteypike
I'm not sure how other ARP teachers around the country will be affected by the Labour Court decision as it was a case against their employer the CDVEC and not against the ARP. If i remember rightly the CDVEC teachers and the TUI were trying to get all the ARP tutors nationwide to join in the action but many chose (for differing reasons) not to get involved. Have you heard of any tutors being re assigned nationwide or are they all on the dole? v strange end to the whole ARP project what with no comment from either the lead agency or national coordinator that I have heard of.

Peteypike

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hi longlooker
this is the first I heard of enhanced redundancies, since the announcement was made to me by the principal of the school I operate from I have heard nothing from the TUI, relevant VEC of the national coordinator of the ARP. I have been trying to get my union to sort out a CID ( have been with the VEC on this programme since Aug 2008) but all seemed to be enjoying the midterm break !!
Some friends have informed me that I should get some offer of redundancy as I have worked longer than 104 continous weeks, but cannot get any confirmation on this. I feel that the staff on the ARP nationwide have been left down by the ARP, their respective VECs and the TUI. And the silence as to what happens to the students who were told they are on a 6 month course which is now closing after 4 months, never mind those on waiting lists to get onto any of the planned future courses is deafening.
I understand there is a case by some teachers against their VEC, changing their employment status from teacher to tutor when they were moved to the ARP in Feb of 2009, which will be heard in the Labour court presently, perhaps if they are successful and reinstated as teachers the TUI, VEC and Dept of Ed. will explain why teachers are being made redundant.

Hi


Google the roisin Leslie LRC case. She won this. This s relevant to all pass ARP tutors. Heard Waterford VEC arp tutor just got teacher contracts