The largest secondary teachers' union, the ASTI, has recommended to its 16,000 members that they boycott the Young Scientists Exhibition because it is sponsored by Esat Telecom, a company which does not recognise unions.
The general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, Mr Charlie Lennon, said yesterday the union was responding to a request for solidarity from the Communications Workers' Union, which has been unsuccessfully seeking union recognition from Esat Digifone, an associated company. The Esat Telecom group, in which Mr Denis O'Brien is a major shareholder, owns Esat Tele com, a business telecommunications company, and 45 per cent of Esat Digifone, which runs the State's second mobile phone network.
Last December the CWU contacted the teacher union to ask for support in its efforts to gain recognition from Esat Digifone. The ASTI wrote to the mobile phone company about the issue in June, but received no reply.
Earlier this month the CWU informed the teacher union that there had been no progress in its attempt to open discussions or even arrange a meeting with Esat Digifone. The ASTI's executive then took the decision to recommend a boycott of the Young Scientists Exhibition.
A statement to be published in the next issue of the union journal, ASTIR, will say: "Solidarity among unions and between workers is a fundamental trade union principle. In these circumstances, the ASTI wishes to recommend to members that they should not be associated with the Young Scientists Exhibition while it is sponsored by a company which does not recognise the union representing workers in its sector."
In a statement yesterday, Esat Telecom said the ASTI's threat was being made to "one of the foremost ways in which students can participate in extra-curricular educational activity". Last January's exhibition, the first to be sponsored by the company, was one of the "most successful in the event's 35-year history", with 690 students from 200 schools participating.
Esat Telecom was "totally dedicated" to enhancing and developing Ireland's largest science com petition into the new millennium. "The threat by the ASTI totally undermines not only the commitment of Esat Telecom to the event but the valued contribution of all teachers who participate, both directly (as mentors to students participating and as judges) and indirectly (as supporters and advocators) in the event."
The ASTI believes its action will not have any effect on most students' preparations for next January's exhibition. Mr Lennon said most teachers "concerned about their students' work for this year's exhibition will continue to facilitate it, but they certainly will be disinclined to be involved next year".
He said teachers' refusal to be associated with the exhibition would mean not assisting students with projects and not having anything to do with its administration and organisation. Few student exhibits would be possible without the encouragement and support of committed teachers.
The Young Scientists Exhibition has been running since 1965, until last year under the sponsorship of Aer Lingus. It has become a hugely successful showcase for Ireland's teenage scientists, many of whom have gone on to win awards in European and other international science competitions.
A senior CWU official, Mr Chris Hudson, said yesterday it had been assured by the other major shareholder in Esat Digifone, Telenor of Norway, that the company would enter into discussions on union recognition. "We have leafleted outside Esat Digifone but the workers are terrified to say they've spoken to someone from a union," he said.