Pay and Workload Still Unresolvedpage 2
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May 2017 Pay and Workload still unresolved Page 2 Are teachers suffering in silence? Page 3 Northern Conference Page 6 Nuacht CMÉ Pay and workload still unresolved Our pay dispute rumbles on and it is Secretary of the Department of better. We are not prepared to accept becoming increasingly obvious the Education has been writing on the ETI’s that there is no additional money. We Employers and Department behalf to the Archbishop of Armagh further do not accept that the Employers [Management Side] are keener than ever seeking his intervention in our trade in particular are at the mercy of a to resolve the issue. However apparent dispute. It would seem their next step Department who are equally hamstrung their desire to bring the dispute to a will be to write to the parents of by a non-existent Executive and an close, their actions are at Principals participating uncaring Tory government in London. odds with this objective. in the action complaining e Employers need to stand up for the ere are ongoing about their children’s people in their employ. Endlessly “engagements” between behaviour. What this tells repeating they understand they have a the INTO, as part of the us is that this part of our duty of care to their employees pays no NITC, and the action is having a real bills neither does it make one minute management side at the effect. Our members more of time available to spend with Joint Working Party, the continue to demonstrate their families. We have repeatedly body where the actual real courage in the face of pointed out areas where the Executive negotiations are ETIs approach to this has found money for its pet projects, be supposed to take place. dispute. e they Irish League soccer clubs or Yet the management side unprecedented degree of paramilitaries, from within what was are not even prepared to union solidarity being even then a shrinking Bloc Grant. accept they are in a shown across the Should the Executive be resurrected or a negotiation; rather they teaching profession on Tory carpet-bagger assume nominal will only concede to this action owes a great responsibility for education here we will these discussions deal to an ill-judged, continue to demand fair pay for teachers being described as Gerry Murphy , action busting strategy and a real reduction to the unreasonable “engagements”. In Northern Secretary on the part of the ETI workloads currently being borne by addition they appear leadership. education professionals. e necessary unwilling to consider, at this point, any Of course, this dispute is about pay funding must be found. serious moves to address the issue of the and workload. INTO is determined to e dispute is ongoing and in the decline in the value they place on see this dispute resolved in a manner coming weeks INTO will join with other teachers, unwilling as they are to move public sector unions in beginning a outside of the current “pay envelope”, the campaign around public sector pay, total amount of money in the education We … do not accept greater investment in the public services budget available to pay teachers. On the as a whole and ending the curse of low issue of the ever increasing workload that the Employers pay. is is a campaign which will not being demanded of INTO members, involve just a single day of action but they are signalling a willingness to in particular are at rather a determined, structured consider “aggressive” action to reduce campaign which will run for as long as it teacher workload. While they have yet to the mercy of a takes to persuade those tasked with outline their ideas, I would expect that governing that teachers and public they are more to do with those areas of Department who are servants deserve better than to be made work currently undertaken by teachers to carry on paying for the financial which come with additional costs for the equally hamstrung meltdown of the noughties. INTO, with management side. this action, has created a breathing space In addition to the above, the other by a non-existent for our members but the dispute at some area of the dispute that continues to point must be resolved. In the meantime crack along at a pace is that part of our Executive and an INTO, which has led the way, will action concerning the non-cooperation continue the fight for fair pay and better with the ETI. e ETI, who sit without uncaring Tory working conditions for our members the negotiation process in their splendid despite political vacuums and attempts “sacred place” untouchable and government in by forces in the education bureaucracy unaccountable, are becoming ever more to continue to exploit them. INTO desperate in their attempts to frustrate London members and those of the other teachers our action. Principals have been leant unions have had enough and the on from the start of the action and unelected, who now administer this this has graduated to letters in an that our members find acceptable. is place, need to accept that and reach an uncompromising tone being sent to the will involve negotiation not accommodation. e entire teaching Chairpersons of school Boards of “engagement” with management side workforce cannot be wrong despite what Governors and now the Permanent and the sooner they waken up to this the management side might think. PRINTOUT 2 MAY 2017 INTO news Are teachers just suffering in silence? Quite often teachers are victims of work protect your person or the persons in A member who has been the victim of related violence and because they are your charge. Generally reasonable force an assault should be given such leave of unsure of how they should react they is only to control or restrain an absence, with pay, to take legal advice allow their assault to be diminished and assailant. and to appear in court. go unreported; for some because of a 4. Note details of the assailant and any Where a teacher is off work for more reluctance by school management to witnesses. than three days because of injuries properly address pupil infractions it 5. As soon as it is practicable, report the sustained due to a workplace assault there becomes the norm. incident to your principal, who shall is a legal requirement to report assault An assault is defined as…“Any incident inform the Employing Authority, Police, and/or battery to the Health and Safety in which an employee is abused, and if necessary, your family/friends. Executive. threatened or assaulted by a student, 6. Your employer should provide you with Where the member's personal property pupil or a member of the public in a private quiet area for as long as is is damaged in the course of an assault, or circumstances arising out of the course of needed where you can sit, preferably by reason of vandalism, full compensation his/her employment”. with a friend, INTO for its replacement value Generally there are two types of representative or to be paid by the deliberate abuse of teachers that can colleague. Employing Authority/ happen in schools; actual physical and Consideration should Board of Governors non-physical violence. also be given to where no order is made Below are some examples of both facilitate cover for your by the Court. however, the lists are by no means classes so that you are exhaustive. offered the Avoiding conflict opportunity to go While much can be done Physical Violence home. The school in schools to help with • Assault causing death should, under the the prevention of • Assault causing actual physical injury circumstances, arrange violence against teachers • Use of missiles / damage to property transport. in relation to securing the • Sexual assault 7. Do not admit any grounds and shell of the • Spitting liability. Do not make building, schools should • Scratching Biting any formal statement be actively involved in • Kicking Punching until you have received providing regular training • Use of weapons advice from your INTO Tommy McGlone , for teachers to help avoid representative. Senior Official conflict from either pupils Non-physical violence 8. Consider whether it is or visitors to the school. • Verbal abuse / shouting appropriate to have photographic • Physical posturing by a person or an evidence of any injuries sustained in an Remember… animal belonging to a person assault. • Avoid confrontation in front of any • Abusive phone calls, texts, emails or audience. The fewer people that are comments on social media Reporting Violence involved in an incident, the easier it is • Threatening behaviour or gestures A member who considers that they have for the aggressor to back down without • Sexual or racial abuse been subjected to a work-related assault losing face. • Name calling or any other form of harassment should • Request another, preferably senior, • Swearing immediately or as early as is possible member of staff to help talk things report the matter to their Principal. through. in the event of an assault In the event of an assault by a pupil, • Remain calm and speak in a controlled 1. If it is safe to do so, try to remove consideration should be given by the manner. Do not be drawn into a heated yourself from the immediate danger. Board of Governors to the pupil's argument. Always seek the appropriate assistance suspension pending consideration of • Avoid aggressive body language such of a work colleague. If this is not appropriate disciplinary action. The as hands on hips, wagging fingers or possible, try to place a barrier between question of the pupil's continued looking down on the aggressor.