The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Schools stay closed as ASTI teachers hold firm over pay
UP to 8,000 students at nearly 20 Kerry secondaries were facing into an indefinite period of winter leave as the ASTI industrial dispute remained deadlocked into Tuesday night.
Due to ASTI teachers withdrawing from supervision and substitution services, principals of most secondaries dominated by the union were left with no option but to close up on health and safety grounds.
However, contingency measures were in place in at least two affected schools. Tarbert Comprehensive was to operate largely as normal from Wednesday as the TUI-member principal was able to draft in three external supervisors to the evenly-split dual union school.
And the Intermediate School Killorglin – where the school manager is also not a member of the ASTI – was to bring Leaving Cert students in on Wednesday for classes. Principals across the county say they are dealing with the situation on a day-by-day basis.
UP to 8,000 students across almost 20 secondary schools in Kerry are still unsure of when they’ll be able to return to school, after ASTI president Ed Byrne said yesterday (November 8) that a resolution between sides in the ongoing pay dispute is ‘as far away as ever’.
The Association of Secondary School Teachers in Ireland engaged in a second one-day strike over the issue of equal pay for recently qualified teachers on Tuesday, with further strike days scheduled for November 16, 24, 29 and 7.
Closures are to continue indefinitely for most Kerry secondary schools over a related dispute, after ASTI teachers withdrew from supervision and substitution duties.
ASTI representative for Kerry, west Limerick and northwest Cork, Matt O’Connor told The Kerryman that secondary teachers involved in the dispute are willing to teach, and continue to be present for work.
“Teachers are willing to teach, they want to teach, but the Department won’t allow them to do so on health and safety grounds; schools cannot open if teachers do not agree to supervise.
“Some schools, like the Intermediate School Killorglin, have been able to continue with extra-curricular activities and will bring Leaving Cert students in for classes as normal on Wednesday [November 9]. But, regrettably, many schools can’t, depending on their individual situation,” he added.
The ISK school manager is able to operate the contingency measures as he is not a member of the ASTI, The Kerryman understands.
Under the Haddington Road agreement, the Government pledged to pay two sums of almost €800 to secondary teachers for supervision and substitution in September of this year. These sums have not been paid.
The Government’s stance arises from an ASTI decision to stop working extra hours under the Croke Park pay deal - hours that the Government says were a permanent commitment. The ASTI argues that the requirement to work the additional Croke Park hours ended after it rejected the subsequent Lansdowne Road agreement.
Like all ASTI-member principals, St Joseph’s Secondary in Ballybunion principal John O’Donovan said he was left with no option but to close the school as he was given no ‘derogation’ - or exemption - by the union to cover substitution and supervision; unlike in 2002 when such a derogation was granted.
“Even if the ASTI granted a derogation in the morning there is still the issue of pay as a Department circular was issued to all teachers notifying them they would be withdrawn from the payroll if they didn’t sign a contract saying they were available to teach and to supervise.”
It’s an issue boards of management at affected schools are deeply concerned over as they could be liable for payment as a result.
“Our hands are completely tied. Teachers want to come in and teach the children but we can’t open now for health and safety reasons,” Mr O’Donovan said.
Meanwhile, Tarbert Comprehensive TUI-member principal Richard Prendiville is able to operate the school as normal from Wednesday in one of the few schools of its kind to be able to do so.
“We’re in the fortunate and probably unique position of being able to operate largely as normal from Wednesday having recruited external supervisors in accordance with the contingency measures laid down,” Mr Prendiville told The Kerryman. He is able to do so as a TUI member not subject to the ASTI action in a school that’s split 50/50 in dual union membership.
However, Mr Prendiville said that sick days heading into flu weather might yet force Tarbert to change its position if the dispute continues.