CORK:EDUCATION workers cancelled a strike planned for South Mall in the city centre yesterday out of respect for those affected by flooding.
However, at the nearby College of Commerce, on Morrison’s Island, more than a dozen picketers vented their frustration. The college, which offers further education opportunities to some 2,000 students, has lost the equivalent of nine full-time teachers as a result of budget cuts over the past year.
Teachers’ Union of Ireland executive and area representative for Cork city and county Vivienne MacSweeney said teacher resources were stretched to the limit. Some 350 more students had enrolled for classes this year, with no new teacher allocations, resulting in an erosion of conditions for staff, she added.
Up to 50 picketers assembled from 8am at the headquarters fof the Revenue Commissioners’ southwest region in Blackpool, which houses 500 Revenue staff.
An estimated 50 education workers, including teachers, psychologists and clerical workers from the union Impact, protested outside the Department of Education offices at Bessborough in Mahon.
John Driscoll, a primary school teacher, said the Government had already taken 8 per cent from teachers' pay and yesterday's strike was about "being fair". LOUISE ROSEINGRAVE
LIMERICK
SERVICES across Limerick were affected by yesterday’s stoppage.
Pickets were in place at dozens of venues across the city and county including schools, colleges, Garda stations, the Revenue offices and other Government buildings.
Non-essential surgeries and procedures were cancelled at Limerick hospitals, while the HSE’s swine flu vaccination clinics in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary were also closed.
Teachers from approximately 50 primary schools in Limerick city held pickets at the offices of the Department of Education on Rosbrien Road for most of the day.
INTO central executive committee representative for Limerick and Kerry, Séamus Long, said he was delighted with the turnout of the teachers.
“Over 1,000 members have been here at one stage or another between the various branches. The vast majority are primary school teachers but we have also had inspectors, special education needs organisers, education and welfare officers and others have joined us also.”
Brian Kenny (45), who teaches fifth and sixth class in Clonmore National School in north Tipperary, said teachers were trying to make a stand. "It is very important that we do not allow ourselves to become a political football. While nobody wants to be out today, we certainly feel that it will be far more costly for us in the long run if we don't take a stand." KATHRYN HAYES
WATERFORD
MAYOR of Waterford John Halligan joined Waterford City Council workers for two hours yesterday morning as they picketed City Hall.
Mr Halligan said the council workers were being unjustly treated by the Government. “These people are just ordinary workers. They shouldn’t be seized upon for a position the banks put us in. Eighty per cent of the workers in the city council earn only trade union rates, which is not a lot of money. The more money you take off people, the less there is to spend.”
Upwards of 7,000 people took their place on the picket lines and local authority and government offices, hospitals and second-level schools.
The largest was probably at Waterford Regional Hospital where at least 200 nurses, ambulance drivers and healthcare assistants manned the picket line.
Waterford Institute of Technology had about 1,000 workers manning the picket line throughout the day and the offices of the Land Registry, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and of the Revenue Commissioners were closed and picketed.
Marie Butler of Siptu said there were a lot of angry people out during the day. All pickets were more than adequately manned. She said ordinary people who would never think of going on strike were so angry that they felt they had no choice. ELLA SHANAHAN
THE WEST
THOUSANDS of public sector workers supported the day of action in the west, while large numbers also deferred action.
Local authority Siptu members in Galway, Mayo and Clare had agreed at the weekend to postpone their strike due to the flooding crisis.
Irish Nurses’ Organisation regional organiser Noreen Muldoon said that a number of nurses worked free of charge in Galway, Castlebar, Roscommon and throughout the country.
These were nurses who volunteered to do rotation in wards which were not designated as exempted areas.
Irish National Teachers’ Organisation members staged a picket at the Department of Education in Galway, as schools closed across the county. Teachers on the picket line said that they did not wish to take this action, but had no option.
Several noted that parents had expressed support at a local level. LORNA SIGGINS