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Upcoming ASTI ballot on SLARS

24

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭Icsics



    Good, nice & clear too


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,254 ✭✭✭✭km79


    Icsics wrote: »
    Good, nice & clear too

    Is it .........
    “And a limited number may run beyond school tuition hours “

    So who decided which ones do and which ones don’t ?
    Or how many is a limited number ?

    It is too ambiguous


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭Icsics


    km79 wrote: »
    Is it .........
    “And a limited number may run beyond school tuition hours “

    So who decided which ones do and which ones don’t ?
    Or how many is a limited number ?

    It is too ambiguous

    I think that last bit has to be in it so we don’t ‘repudiate’ the agreement


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,254 ✭✭✭✭km79


    Icsics wrote: »
    I think that last bit has to be in it so we don’t ‘repudiate’ the agreement

    I understand that alright
    But
    It is there

    So who will decide what these “limited number “ are ......


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 430 ✭✭6am7f9zxrsjvnb


    Beaulieu wrote: »
    Must SLARS be 2 hours in length?

    I was in charge of our first English SLAR meeting in 2018....It lasted 1.5 hrs

    In 2019 it lasted for about 22 mins.

    Personally, I’ll be disgusted if the next one clocks in at over 15 minutes.

    You get the idea...Unions need to pick their battles...SLARs are not worth getting excited about.They are as straightforward or as complicated as a subject Dept chooses to make them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,705 ✭✭✭2011abc


    Km79 and sheaP both highlight the idiocy of this ballot /'campaign' .The 'limited number' thing makes a farce of it with only one per subject /year and of course it was always a sham to hide the fact pay inequality ( and devastated conditions) are now PERMANENT .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,621 ✭✭✭Treppen


    I was in charge of our first English SLAR meeting in 2018....It lasted 1.5 hrs

    In 2019 it lasted for about 22 mins.

    Personally, I’ll be disgusted if the next one clocks in at over 15 minutes.

    You get the idea...Unions need to pick their battles...SLARs are not worth getting excited about.They are as straightforward or as complicated as a subject Dept chooses to make them.

    Your forgetting that in some schools the "subject department" don't get the luxury of deciding.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,621 ✭✭✭Treppen


    It's up to Union members to look around at other subject departments within a school.

    Is everybody / some being told that they must meet after school. If that's the case then it's breaking the agreement.

    So if a few (which I would take to mean a limited number) run over into extra time then that seems reasonable.

    It's simply a reminder to those in schools on what was agreed upon, as it seems some schools are taking the proverbial by refusing meetings to take place during school time.... Or refusing cover be granted while meetings need to take place.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 543 ✭✭✭coillsaille


    km79 wrote: »
    Is it .........
    “And a limited number may run beyond school tuition hours “

    So who decided which ones do and which ones don’t ?
    Or how many is a limited number ?

    It is too ambiguous

    The Q&A document on the union website actually gives a lot more clarity than the directive itself. They give various examples of SLAR situations and say whether members should attend or not.

    It seems that the SLAR must be scheduled to start AND end within tuition time. If some run past that scheduled end time into after school time then that can be overlooked for "a limited number" of meetings. But none can be scheduled to run past tuition time.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,729 ✭✭✭Millem


    What is happening in a mixed union department?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,616 ✭✭✭Benicetomonty


    Millem wrote: »
    What is happening in a mixed union department?

    No issue if meetings are scheduled inside school hours. Otherwise, since the TUI have issued no directive and are happy to ignore what's written in the agreement they signed up to, I would imagine their members need to make themselves available for SLARs whenever management decrees.

    Having said that, I wouldnt imagine principals will see much point in insisting that meetings are carried out if half of the department are unable to attend. Id suspect that in dual union and ASTI schools, SLARs are pretty much finished, for the time being at least.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,254 ✭✭✭✭km79


    No issue if meetings are scheduled inside school hours. Otherwise, since the TUI have issued no directive and are happy to ignore what's written in the agreement they signed up to, I would imagine their members need to make themselves available for SLARs whenever management decrees.

    Having said that, I wouldnt imagine principals will see much point in insisting that meetings are carried out if half of the department are unable to attend. Id suspect that in dual union and ASTI schools, SLARs are pretty much finished, for the time being at least.

    So in short TUI members won’t have to do SLARS
    But also won’t have to face whatever sanctions the dept come back with

    Feels familiar .......


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,729 ✭✭✭Millem


    No issue if meetings are scheduled inside school hours. Otherwise, since the TUI have issued no directive and are happy to ignore what's written in the agreement they signed up to, I would imagine their members need to make themselves available for SLARs whenever management decrees.

    Having said that, I wouldnt imagine principals will see much point in insisting that meetings are carried out if half of the department are unable to attend. Id suspect that in dual union and ASTI schools, SLARs are pretty much finished, for the time being at least.

    Ok. What happens if tui members do the slar outside school time and Asti members attend?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,254 ✭✭✭✭km79


    Millem wrote: »
    Ok. What happens if tui members do the slar outside school time and Asti members attend?

    Then asti members have broken directive and should be reported


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,616 ✭✭✭Benicetomonty


    km79 wrote: »
    So in short TUI members won’t have to do SLARS
    But also won’t have to face whatever sanctions the dept come back with

    Feels familiar .......

    Majority TUI schools will. And I cant see their principals making any effort to bring SLARs back inside school hours, so theyl continue as they were. Which wont be appreciated if ASTI members arent doing them at all.

    As regards sanctions, its hard to see what can actually happen. Nothing is being repudiated this time. All the ASTI is doing is following the agreement to the letter. Plus after the government caved with the nurses and given that we're so close to an election, any threats made are likely to ring hollow.

    Somebody said that our professional time would be threatened. Hard to see how principals would be willing to see that through, especially given there are now probably very few exclusively ASTI schools anymore after the poaching episode, which means management would have to pick up serious flak from staff who end up with the extra 40mins. Ironic that the disharmony between the unions that made the govt's tactics so effective during the last dispute is precisely the reason this specific approach wont work this time around; if the two unions were towing the same line, reinstating the extra weekly period might actually be a feasible threat. It isnt in the current context.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,913 ✭✭✭acequion


    No issue if meetings are scheduled inside school hours. Otherwise, since the TUI have issued no directive and are happy to ignore what's written in the agreement they signed up to, I would imagine their members need to make themselves available for SLARs whenever management decrees.

    Having said that, I wouldnt imagine principals will see much point in insisting that meetings are carried out if half of the department are unable to attend. Id suspect that in dual union and ASTI schools, SLARs are pretty much finished, for the time being at least.

    I'd say it would depend on the management of the school. I can't see too many school managers allowing SLARS to be abandoned. Imagine if there was a WSE! All that documentation has to be shown to the inspectors.

    But then I guess nothing is surprising any more and what you say is possible. Being in one of the few remaining almost exclusively ASTI schools, I've no idea what life is like in dual unions schools, thankfully.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,729 ✭✭✭Millem


    If the Slar was scheduled during the school day but you had no classes because you are part time and have a half day....that is ok?


  • Registered Users Posts: 68 ✭✭themusicman


    Millem wrote: »
    If the Slar was scheduled during the school day but you had no classes because you are part time and have a half day....that is ok?

    Yes. We got this checked out in our school(which by the way hasnt had any issues with slars after hours).If its during school time and you are off then thats just the unlucky break.

    As an aside one finished in 20 minutes in our place....and there was no rush in getting it done in that time


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,621 ✭✭✭Treppen


    Millem wrote: »
    If the Slar was scheduled during the school day but you had no classes because you are part time and have a half day....that is ok?

    In that case you could use your 'bundled time's from 22-21:20 allowance.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,621 ✭✭✭Treppen


    In a way its a little bit of a dig at the TUI overlords who are happy to let their members suffer by the SLAR agreement being broken and ridden roughshod over.

    In a dual school if you have ASTI representation then I think it's a matter of legality. Your employer can't ask you to work outside school hours and if they sanction you for refusing then it's lawyer-up time. I'd want assurances from the ASTI that they would have your back first.

    If this stops SLARS being organised for ASTI members outside of school. Then it should follow that in dual schools it should stop SLARS being imposed on TUI and Non-Union members.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 94 ✭✭Snapgal


    I was permanent for 12 years but left job to come closer home and was with ASTI since day one I became a teacher. Have been in short term contracts last few years and this year on a term not own ours contract. Put myself forward as SLAR coordinator as don’t have third years and wanted to put on CV and see what all CBAs all about, SLAR Meetings in this school outside school hours. School would have roughly 20% ASTI members.ASTI Stewart did approach me about directive but don’t know what to do now - I ideally would love not to have SLAR meeting but then am afraid if any job interviews come up in summer would it look bad that I have not tried to get involved in new Junior Cycle. Nearly 20 years of experience of teaching and examining doesn’t seem to impress interviewers anyway.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,976 ✭✭✭doc_17


    km79 wrote: »
    So in short TUI members won’t have to do SLARS
    But also won’t have to face whatever sanctions the dept come back with

    Feels familiar .......

    And what happens if the government retaliate, which they have said they will, by defining the school day? Even though TUI members haven't taken the action they will receive the same medicine as ASTI.

    All these snarky comments at the TUI aren't going to anyone any good.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,616 ✭✭✭Benicetomonty


    doc_17 wrote: »
    And what happens if the government retaliate, which they have said they will, by defining the school day?

    Where has this been said?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,976 ✭✭✭doc_17


    Where has this been said?

    Heard it from a high enough Union official at our December meeting, one of the ones that does the rounds to local branches. I know and trust the source.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,616 ✭✭✭Benicetomonty


    doc_17 wrote: »
    Heard it from a high enough Union official at our December meeting, one of the ones that does the rounds to local branches. I know and trust the source.

    There's obviously a reason they havent made that threat public. The govt had no problem issuing threats and ultimatums through the indo and the Times in the run up to the last dispute before any directives were ever put in place. Why not this time?
    Standardising the day would be a declaration of war with teaching unions, all 3 of them. INTO and TUI would feel exceptionally hard done by since theyve resisted nothing the dept have proposed in the last decade. Dont get me wrong, the way things are going, I could still see this becoming a reality at some point but it wont be anytime soon. And the stakes would have to be much higher than the issue of the SLAR meetings for a goverment to bring that level of strife upon themselves. A red herring if ever there was one.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,465 ✭✭✭History Queen


    doc_17 wrote: »
    Heard it from a high enough Union official at our December meeting, one of the ones that does the rounds to local branches. I know and trust the source.

    Heard the same, I'd imagine from the same official


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,254 ✭✭✭✭km79


    What exactly would a standardized school day mean ?
    I assume for a start it would mean tearing up every teachers existing contract .........


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,729 ✭✭✭Millem


    Heard the same, I'd imagine from the same official

    I heard the same too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,913 ✭✭✭acequion


    doc_17 wrote: »
    Heard it from a high enough Union official at our December meeting, one of the ones that does the rounds to local branches. I know and trust the source.

    Typical scaremongering tactics by TUI to make sure the members toe the line. And they do, every time.

    "High enough union official," "does the rounds to local branches."

    Says it all.:rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭joebloggs32


    I'm in the TUI and I clearly remember when we voted to accept the JCT agreement 4 years ago that we were told by our union officials that this would mean having slars outside of school time. The bundled time we would receive would be in part for doing SLARs.
    As mentioned above, SLARs may be completed much quicker than 2 hours.
    When we voted in 2016 our union officials also listed out the severe sanctions on the table if we had rejected the proposed deal. Remember, Fempi is a very big stick. Right or wrong the TUI accepted the deal. I do however remember many of my Asti colleagues confidently saying there was no way the government would come down that hard on them. We all know what did happen, and now as also mentioned the threat of the government designating the school day has reared its head. I sincerely hope it's just scaremongering, but if it comes to pass because of this issue there will not be much love from TUI members for the Asti for going on this solo run.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,254 ✭✭✭✭km79


    km79 wrote: »
    What exactly would a standardized school day mean ?
    I assume for a start it would mean tearing up every teachers existing contract .........

    ^


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭joebloggs32


    km79 wrote: »
    ^

    It would mean every teacher being present in school from the start of the school day until the end, regardless of having free periods. It is what they have in the UK.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,254 ✭✭✭✭km79


    It would mean every teacher being present in school from the start of the school day until the end, regardless of having free periods. It is what they have in the UK.

    Right
    So a complete change in contract ?

    If this was to be forced on us then I assume we would pull out of every after school meeting ?
    A unilateral change in working conditions wolly surely repudiate all agreements ........

    I am generally in school all day anyway and getting my evenings back might not be such a bad thing .............

    Assuming also it is not jail and lunch time means freedom like in every other job ............


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,976 ✭✭✭doc_17


    acequion wrote: »
    Typical scaremongering tactics by TUI to make sure the members toe the line. And they do, every time.

    "High enough union official," "does the rounds to local branches."

    Says it all.:rolleyes:

    We aren’t balloting on anything so nobody was trying to get anyone to “toe the line”. Stupid comment.

    It came up as it’s an action by another group that might affect our terms and conditions.

    ASTI have made some poor decisions in the last few years that really worked out badly for them and their members, and now their poorly thought out strategies could have a real impact on the rest of us.

    ASTI did well taking action against the TUI to get money back for central coffers from lost members. Maybe they should work as hard to get the money back for their members who had FEMPI applied to them during their strike, unlike the nurses.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 48,254 ✭✭✭✭km79


    doc_17 wrote: »
    ASTI did well taking action against the TUI to get money back for central coffers from lost members. Maybe they should work as hard to get the money back for their members who had FEMPI applied to them during their strike, unlike the nurses.

    Indeed
    I actually raised this with a union rep and they assured me the TUI money is to be spread amongst the membership............
    I Won’t hold my breath

    And have also been assured the FEMPI fight is ongoing in European court
    Again won’t hold my breath


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,616 ✭✭✭Benicetomonty


    I'm in the TUI and I clearly remember when we voted to accept the JCT agreement 4 years ago that we were told by our union officials that this would mean having slars outside of school time. The bundled time we would receive would be in part for doing SLARs.
    As mentioned above, SLARs may be completed much quicker than 2 hours.
    When we voted in 2016 our union officials also listed out the severe sanctions on the table if we had rejected the proposed deal. Remember, Fempi is a very big stick. Right or wrong the TUI accepted the deal. I do however remember many of my Asti colleagues confidently saying there was no way the government would come down that hard on them. We all know what did happen, and now as also mentioned the threat of the government designating the school day has reared its head. I sincerely hope it's just scaremongering, but if it comes to pass because of this issue there will not be much love from TUI members for the Asti for going on this solo run.

    Safe to say whatever happens, the TUI needn't expect an iota of support or sympathy from the ASTI unless it's for a common goal. Their poaching of ASTI members during the last dispute was probably the most blatant affront to the spirit of trade unionism we've witnessed in I dont know how long.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭joebloggs32


    Safe to say whatever happens, the TUI needn't expect an iota of support or sympathy from the ASTI unless it's for a common goal. Their poaching of ASTI members during the last dispute was probably the most blatant affront to the spirit of trade unionism we've witnessed in I dont know how long.

    What is the current position of the Asti on pay equality?
    TUI have given notice for industrial action in February. INTO have signalled that they will take action if it's not resolved by summer.
    ASTI are sticking it to the man by not doing SLARs


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭Icsics


    What is the current position of the Asti on pay equality?
    TUI have given notice for industrial action in February. INTO have signalled that they will take action if it's not resolved by summer.
    ASTI are sticking it to the man by not doing SLARs

    I think we all know at this stage that there’s no way TUI / INTO are going to go on strike.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,621 ✭✭✭Treppen


    doc_17 wrote: »
    We aren’t balloting on anything so nobody was trying to get anyone to “toe the line”. Stupid comment.

    It came up as it’s an action by another group that might affect our terms and conditions.

    ASTI have made some poor decisions in the last few years that really worked out badly for them and their members, and now their poorly thought out strategies could have a real impact on the rest of us.

    ASTI did well taking action against the TUI to get money back for central coffers from lost members. Maybe they should work as hard to get the money back for their members who had FEMPI applied to them during their strike, unlike the nurses.

    That's all neither here nor there, the agreement was the agreement. Both TUI and ASTI and Dept. all have and agreed upon the same words.
    9.7. The 40 minute professional time period provided within timetable is available to teachers on the basis that they will use this time flexibly including bundling time periods and carrying forward time to facilitate professional collaboration. Teachers may also use the time periods for individual planning, feedback or reporting activities relating to Junior Cycle. In particular, time periods will need to be bundled to facilitate SLAR meetings. Since professional collaboration meetings can only be held when the relevant subject teachers can be present, a limited number of meetings may need to draw on teachers’ bundled time to run beyond normal school tuition hours for some of the duration of the meeting.

    The clue is 'normal tuition hours'. When a school finishes on a half day the second half is NOT tuition hours. The students aren't there in class so it's not tution time.

    The ASTI take the view that the 'school day' happens when students are present. Not sure about TUI.... But I am certain the ASTI negotiators were astute enough not to allow the term "school day" to be included.

    So arguing over the "school day" is moot.

    TUI need to read what they signed.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,621 ✭✭✭Treppen


    Snapgal wrote: »
    I was permanent for 12 years but left job to come closer home and was with ASTI since day one I became a teacher. Have been in short term contracts last few years and this year on a term not own ours contract. Put myself forward as SLAR coordinator as don’t have third years and wanted to put on CV and see what all CBAs all about, SLAR Meetings in this school outside school hours. School would have roughly 20% ASTI members.ASTI Stewart did approach me about directive but don’t know what to do now - I ideally would love not to have SLAR meeting but then am afraid if any job interviews come up in summer would it look bad that I have not tried to get involved in new Junior Cycle. Nearly 20 years of experience of teaching and examining doesn’t seem to impress interviewers anyway.

    If you are SLAR coordinator are you getting your 2 hours off?
    5.4. One teacher of each subject in the school will be allocated two additional hours by school management to facilitate the preparation for and coordination of each Subject Learning and Assessment Review meeting for that subject. To foster capacity building in each subject department this activity will normally be rotated among the relevant teachers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,616 ✭✭✭Benicetomonty


    What is the current position of the Asti on pay equality?
    TUI have given notice for industrial action in February. INTO have signalled that they will take action if it's not resolved by summer.
    ASTI are sticking it to the man by not doing SLARs

    Supposedly a February strike and the TUI havent even confirmed a date. We wont hold our breath :)

    The reference to the INTO doesnt warrant a response.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭joebloggs32


    Supposedly a February strike and the TUI havent even confirmed a date. We wont hold our breath :)

    The reference to the INTO doesnt warrant a response.

    As there may be an election coming now is the time to bang the drum for maximum leverage


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,913 ✭✭✭acequion


    Safe to say whatever happens, the TUI needn't expect an iota of support or sympathy from the ASTI unless it's for a common goal. Their poaching of ASTI members during the last dispute was probably the most blatant affront to the spirit of trade unionism we've witnessed in I dont know how long.

    Here, here! Most sensible and factually correct comment made all evening.

    TUI really have a nerve making snide remarks at ASTI when ASTI were the only ones with the balls to make an actual stand, during which time their members were blatantly poached.

    The dogs in the street could see that the modus operandi of senior TUI officials is indeed scaremongering. Has another poster not posted this evening how fire and brimstone was threatened on all who didn't accept whatever horseshyte was being forced upon teachers!! And it worked as TUI members constantly scampered for cover.

    But so did many in ASTI. And if one thing is blatantly obvious, it's that too many rolled over and let them trample the daylights out of our profession, our pay and our conditions, so that the job is now a pale shadow of what it once was.

    The giving in is what screwed us all. I haven't the slightest doubt about that and with a bare three years left I can hold my head high with the pride that I fought and am relieved to soon be jumping off a sinking ship. And for all that, when I go into my classroom, close my door on all the shyte being dreamed up in the upper echelons of education, I still enjoy teaching my classes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,465 ✭✭✭History Queen


    To be fair, (and I don't for a second condone unions reneging on agreements and hate that TUI accepted members of another union durong a dispute), but it's not that the TUI actively went out looking for ASTI members. They ran to the TUI. They turned their back on their union. They actively and purposely spught membership with the TUI. Pretending that ASTI members were somehow "poached " is suggesting they were actively targeted by the TUI. That is simply not true.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,913 ✭✭✭acequion


    To be fair, (and I don't for a second condone unions reneging on agreements and hate that TUI accepted members of another union durong a dispute), but it's not that the TUI actively went out looking for ASTI members. They ran to the TUI. They turned their back on their union. They actively and purposely spught membership with the TUI. Pretending that ASTI members were somehow "poached " is suggesting they were actively targeted by the TUI. That is simply not true.

    You make a valid point History Queen but that's not the full story. By all accounts TUI have become quite aggressive over the past few years actively recruiting members in the voluntary secondary sector, a traditional ASTI stronghold. Competition might be healthy in the private sector and the unions are private sector, however such blatant competitiveness is very distasteful in a trade union ethos and at a time when the profession has been and still is under sustained attack from many sectors. Unions should be sticking together in solidarity.

    Also, TUI openly accepted and in many cases encouraged renegade ASTI members to join up . Perhaps they didn't target them in the strict meaning of the term, but not so far off and there's no doubt that it was utterly reprehensible.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,939 ✭✭✭wingnut


    To be fair, (and I don't for a second condone unions reneging on agreements and hate that TUI accepted members of another union durong a dispute), but it's not that the TUI actively went out looking for ASTI members. They ran to the TUI. They turned their back on their union. They actively and purposely spught membership with the TUI. Pretending that ASTI members were somehow "poached " is suggesting they were actively targeted by the TUI. That is simply not true.

    We went from majority ASTI to majority TUI during the dispute (a handful of us remained). The motivating factor for sure was the increments. Majority of teachers don't care much for any of it except when it hits their pocket.

    I guess the poaching element is the fact the TUI openly accepted all comers in contravention of practice and custom of not facilitating transfers in times of IR unrest.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,976 ✭✭✭doc_17


    acequion wrote: »
    You make a valid point History Queen but that's not the full story. By all accounts TUI have become quite aggressive over the past few years actively recruiting members in the voluntary secondary sector, a traditional ASTI stronghold. Competition might be healthy in the private sector and the unions are private sector, however such blatant competitiveness is very distasteful in a trade union ethos and at a time when the profession has been and still is under sustained attack from many sectors. Unions should be sticking together in solidarity.

    Also, TUI openly accepted and in many cases encouraged renegade ASTI members to join up . Perhaps they didn't target them in the strict meaning of the term, but not so far off and there's no doubt that it was utterly reprehensible.

    Heresay. ASTI members were being led to ruin by a calamitous leadership. Had the level headed union members not acted and called that special conference, where would the ASTI be now? An intervention was needed on the ASTI, they were nuts to do what they did. Brave? Yes. But they had no plan.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,913 ✭✭✭acequion


    doc_17 wrote: »
    Heresay. ASTI members were being led to ruin by a calamitous leadership. Had the level headed union members not acted and called that special conference, where would the ASTI be now? An intervention was needed on the ASTI, they were nuts to do what they did. Brave? Yes. But they had no plan.

    And if these "level headed" ASTI members had not got their way in spite of the wishes of a majority of members, where would we all be now I wonder?

    ASTI members even more sanctioned by FEMPI and less members? Very possibly. And /or more concessions on the JC, making that "reform" a bit less of a joke and slightly more workable? Very possibly. Plus some other concessions as the Govt could not continue to ignore a majority of very determined second level teachers? Perhaps more give on the NQT issue as had happened with S&S? Very possibly as well. And would it have been worth the pain? I certainly think so as did a majority of my fellow members at convention that year when this "level headed " contingent first launched their coup.

    Whatever would have happened, the fact now remains that by being forced to give in teachers in general achieved sweet FA. Ok a few increments, 30 pieces of silver and the 2 year CID which I do understand. But overall did things improve? Go look for yourself!!

    Continuing and probably permanent pay inequality despite a booming economy with post 2011s facing derisory pensions. Hugely increased teacher workload with the new JC which is largely considered a failure, don't we all know the popular mnemonic for CBA, couldn't be arssed, is that progress, do you think? Carte blanche for a disaster of a new LC as they know our unions are a walkover [because of the weak members who always give in]. Continuing huge class sizes, a fear ethos in our work places as teachers power and authority totally eroded, halved sick leave to name but a few, plus whatever else you're having in future "agreements".

    So whatever may have been the outcome if the ASTI action had continued, the reality is that it could not have been worse than the state of the job today. With the added damage that it proved conclusively that teachers with their two squabbling unions and their infighting within unions and their innate fear of the big boys, are cannon fodder. The softly softly approach of your "level headed" brigade has achieved NOTHING of any worth.

    Like I say I really am very relieved to be in my final years of all this codology.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,976 ✭✭✭doc_17


    Hang on, in the same post you take for the ASTI’s action having made the JC more tolerable and worse at the same time? I think I know what you are trying to say but ultimately if the JC is still a disaster then the action failed.

    And the JC issue was all but decided anyway. Nothing really came from the ASTI’s action in that regard? They backed down with no gains. Gov won that dispute.

    For any action to have a chance we need the INTO on board.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,621 ✭✭✭Treppen


    doc_17 wrote: »
    Hang on, in the same post you take for the ASTI’s action having made the JC more tolerable and worse at the same time? I think I know what you are trying to say but ultimately if the JC is still a disaster then the action failed.

    And the JC issue was all but decided anyway. Nothing really came from the ASTI’s action in that regard? They backed down with no gains. Gov won that dispute.

    For any action to have a chance we need the INTO on board.

    No gains? If it wasn't for the ASTI and Travers 1&2. Youd be in school correcting your own students junior cert scripts during June/July/August.... For free.
    And before someone tells me that the appropriate term is marking... :pac: I actually mean correcting... As in, 'correcting' the grade scores to keep your principal and parents happy.

    Back to the topic in hand... Il repeat.
    The TUI need to read the agreement they signed up to as they don't understand it.

    SLARS during tuition hours.
    Not after work.

    It's ironic some TUI members here threatening that we'll have to work longer hours if we force the issue... When they are already working longer hours because they won't get some solidarity together.


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