teachers’ union of ireland / AONTAS MÚINTEOIRÍ ÉIREANN Vol.43 / no.4 newsMarch/april 2021 tui neWs A Word from the contents: p.2 A Word From The President p.4 Phased reopening of workplaces President – Martin Marjoram p.5 State Examinations 2021 – an update p.6 MTU ballot results Dear Members, Phased return to p.6 Don’t miss out on TUI’s accredited While TUI’s opposition to a rushed school/liMited increase course in Trade Union Studies return to in-person education in January in onsite actiVities in p.7 New mental health and wellbeing played an important role in preventing an further and higher resource for schools education unwise policy decision, and has been Though months of further restrictions p.8 Education International steps up amply vindicated since, the necessity for are before us while the vaccines are climate action in 2021 emergency remote teaching over such administered, public health advice p.9 ICTU marks International Women’s an extended period required enormous favours a cautious, phased re-opening of Day work and commitment from you, which schools and a limited increase in onsite p.10 TUI in the media TUI has referenced consistently in activities in further and higher education. p.14 Repo rt on resolutions of Annual negotiations and in the media. Thankfully, Indeed, the more stringent limitations Congress, 26th June 2020 the state’s vaccination programme, for all imposed in other societal settings are p.19 Report on resolutions of Special its delays and difficulties, promises an identified as necessary in controlling Congress, 7th November 2020 end at last to the severe impacts of the community infection levels sufficiently to p.31 Your voice matters pandemic. In the meantime, TUI has allow education and other essential p.32 Update to the Teacher Fee Refund been, and will be, working to protect services to proceed, with appropriate Scheme members from additional workload and mitigation measures in place. p.33 Important notice for PRSI Class A in terms of health and safety. In order to improve confidence, and to contributors take advantage of the flexibility arising p.35 RMA News from only a fraction of staff having to p.36 Crossword attend in person, TUI has negotiated that Annual Congress - 6th/7th April 2021 Due to ongoing restrictions as a result of the national Congress will be addressed by both Minister for health emergency, the TUI’s Annual Congress will take Education, Norma Foley TD and Minister for Further and place remotely on 6th and 7th April 2021. Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Keep an eye on the Union’s communications channels Simon Harris TD. for updates and full details on the schedule and format In 2020, TUI’s Annual Congress took place online on of the event. 26th June 2020, with a Special Congress taking place on 7th November 2020. A full report on resolutions passed at both events are featured in this magazine. EDITORIAL Annette Dolan John MacGabhann PRODUCTION Deputy General Secretary Assistant General Secretary Martin Marjoram [email protected] [email protected] TU I News is published by the President Teachers’ Union of Ireland. [email protected] Seamus Lahart Declan Glynn Aontas Múinteoirí Éireann, Assistant General Secretary Assistant General Secretary Liz Farrell [email protected] [email protected] 73 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Vice President Dublin 6, D06 YP89. [email protected] Aidan Kenny Anne Howard Assistant General Secretary Assistant General Secretary Michael Gillespie [email protected] [email protected] T: 01 - 492 2588 F: 01 - 492 2953 General Secretary E: [email protected] W: www.tui.ie [email protected] Colm Kelly David Duffy Assistant General Secretary Education & Research Officer Printed by: [email protected] [email protected] Typecraft Ltd. Patricia Keating Joanne Irwin Administrative Officer Assistant General Secretary [email protected] jirwin @tui.ie Conor Griffin John O’Reilly Press & Information Officer Assistant General Secretary [email protected] [email protected] 2 March/april 2021 - TUI NEWS tui neWs pregnant members, members who are 60 Building MoMentuM – a years old or older, and members who are neW PuBlic serVice in the high-risk health category may agreeMent 2021-2022 continue to work remotely if they so On 23rd February, the Public Services choose until there is a full return to in- Committee of the ICTU gave its person attendance in their sector. overwhelming backing to Building Changes to leave arrangements have also Momentum, the new public service been secured, giving members greater agreement. The TUI Executive had already facility to deal with childcare and other made clear its opposition to the proposal caring responsibilities. because it fails to address the scandal of pay discrimination. The agreement’s new Intensive work by TUI on negotiation and Sectoral Bargaining mechanism, whereby documentation has resulted in unions divert a long-awaited potential pay agreements and guidance across the rise into funding their own claims and various sectors and workplaces in which adjudications, is not a just system and TUI organises. Locally and nationally the could lead to significant divergence union must be vigilant that onsite between public servants if continued into activities take place in accordance with future agreements. However, it does those outcomes. Strict adherence to all provide a means to further address pay necessary public health requirements inequality so TUI will participate and will remains essential. The union will not work within the terms of the agreement tolerate any failure by management to to secure the scheduled pay increases TUI PRESIDENT, MARTIN MARJORAM implement what is required. and the best outcomes for members. The closure of our workplaces and the inadequacy of our database prevented us negotiation teams in all consortiums, state exaMinations from balloting as intended. As soon as while members in IADT Dun Laoghaire The further loss of face-to-face teaching and Dundalk IT face the uncertainty of in January and February resulted in a practicable, we will ballot members. In this regard, I must remind you of the not having a clear place in the process at clamour against “forcing” students to sit need to update your membership details all. The Dundalk IT Branch must be the Leaving Certificate examinations. if you have not done so. Please take the commended for its outstanding display of While sharing the concerns for students opportunity by solidarity with management grade expressed by many, TUI did not favour clicking the link here and note that the “Union Reference” field members in the ongoing dispute the Government’s decision to offer is not a required field if you do not have regarding the operations of its senior students the choice of SEC accredited your TUI number to hand. leadership team. grades instead of, or in combination with, the conventional Leaving Certificate. The annual congress disastrous spike in COVID-19 cases in industrial relations Another, regrettably remote, Annual January gave clear justification for a Processes and Congress is almost upon us. I look contingency to be put in place against a negotiations forward to the debate and the policy similar occurrence in June. However, with The WRC Conciliation process regarding the claim for a conversion process in discussion and formulation at the heart of public health advice continuing to indicate this key event in our democratic calendar. that the written examinations and almost Youthreach commenced on 5th March. The confidentiality of the process I will impress upon both Ministers (for all additional assessment components can Education and for Further and Higher take place, the decision to offer choice prevents any detailed report. The next meeting is scheduled for 20th May. Education) your remarkable work and must be viewed as a political response by dedication to your students through this both Government and opposition as Other long-standing claims, includinrg fo unprecedented crisis and the need to opposed to sound educational or public the restoration of the H.Dip./PME learn that the long-standing policy of health policy. allowance and regarding incremental operating education at crisis funding TUI negotiated tirelessly on behalf of credit in Third Level, continue their levels is not a virtue and left us singularly members, and of the integrity of the frustratingly slow progress through the ill-prepared when struck by COVID-19. assessment process, and will continue to state’s industrial relations machinery and That the system withstood that impact as insist on protections for members against we will update members when we have well as it did is a further testament to workload impositions and undue news. your extraordinary endeavours, but it is influence or interference in their Work by TUI members and officials surely time to build and fund education estimation of students’ marks. TUI’s clear continues regarding the Technological on a sustainable basis. guidance with regard to both Leaving University process. It is unacceptable that Looki ng forward to seeing many of you at Certificate and Junior Cycle will continue the Branches in the newly formed Congress, and with every good wish for to be updated an d we will continue to Munster Technological Unive rsity have your and your family’s health, negotiate improvements and clarifications encountered such difficulty simply to with the Department. ensure that management upholds what is already agreed. Challenges face our www.tui.ie - TUI NEWS 3 tui neWs Phased re-opening of workplaces – ongoing review of public health situation will be required Note – as these are additional suPPorts and phased reopening. This is not a return to safeguards tuition, rather it is a return to facilitate developing issues, keep an As a result of TUI’s representations,a instruction on specialist equipment eye on the TUI website and range of additional supports and required for the completion of time- measures have been agreed to protect critical practical elements and the social media channels for students and staff.