PRIMARY TEACHERS may withdraw from all extracurricular activities as the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) steps up its campaign against Government pay cuts. In a directive to its 25,000 members, the union is recommending that each school “review its practice of voluntary activities after school time and consider if such activities might take place during school time”.
The move will be of concern to many organisations, including the GAA which relies on primary teachers to teach younger children the basics of football and hurling. Drama and other cultural activities could also be targeted.
All three teaching unions are ratcheting up their campaign against the cuts. On average, teachers faced a total pay cut of 13 per cent in the past year due to the pension levy and pay cuts.
Yesterday, the Assocation of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) issued a circular to members on industrial action. This backs various work to rule action by teachers. There is also a “blanket refusal to co-operate with transformation proposals for the public sector’.’
Last month, the ASTI executive discussed a possible ban on extracurricular activities including school games.
The INTO directive requires its members not to:
- Attend parent/teacher meetings outside of school hours;
- Attend in-service training during school hours without substitute cover;
- Attend staff meetings outside of school time;
- Undertake duties where a post of responsibility is not filled due to the promotion embargo.
The INTO exempted a small number of training courses from the ban on in-service outside of school time, specifically in child protection training, reading and maths recovery programmes and school leadership. The directives take effect immediately.
“The Government collapsed social partnership talks and cut teachers’ salaries in the Budget. The INTO has therefore issued work to rule directives to members,” said Sheila Nunan, the INTO’s general secretary.