IRISH NATIONAL TEACHERS' ORGANISATION:PRIMARY SCHOOL teachers have voted against industrial action on the issue of cuts to special needs support.
Irish National Teachers’ Organisation general secretary Sheila Nunan warned delegates that striking was not an option under the terms of the Croke Park agreement.
Delegates were voting on a motion to launch a campaign to reverse cuts in special education using all means up to and including strike action.
A pause on applications for special needs support was announced by the Department of Education last month. Schools are not expected to be notified of resource provision for children enrolling in September until June at the earliest.
Ms Nunan appealed to delegates to vote down the motion. “We do not have available means for industrial action under the Croke Park agreement,” she said. “We have to be truthful and honest – industrial action puts us in direct conflict with the agreement to protect pay of teachers.”
Alan Bedford, Coolock, Dublin, who called for a vote in favour of strike action, said it was an issue of pay versus special needs. “Croke Park has tied our hands and our feet – we can’t do anything for these kids. Don’t think that Croke Park is going to protect the pay of teachers forever.”
Gregor Kerr, Dublin, said the call to action was “the teeth” of the motion, and urged delegates to support it. “Industrial action is not a dirty word. We are a union and the ability to withdraw our labour is the strongest weapon that we have. Why start a campaign by ruling out the tactic? If we are to sink with the needy I’d prefer that than to stay afloat with the greedy.”
Delegates voted against industrial action on the issue by a large majority. There was widespread condemnation of the pause in resource allocation for children with special needs.
There was also criticism of the operation of resource allocation.
School leaders complained that special education needs organisers (Seno) were challenging the reports of educational psychologists on cost grounds.
Eilish Kerrisk, Tallaght, Dublin, described the needs organiser as a “grim reaper” coming into schools and taking away children’s support entitlements. “When a Seno comes into your class and suggests that the solution to a child with autism who cannot button his own coat is a coat with Velcro and not an SNA [special needs assistant], you know you are not having a conversation about a child’s future. You’re in a battle about money.”
Mary Conneely, Drogheda, Co Louth, said Senos were being nick-named “Say-Nos” in schools.
* New INTO president Noreen Flynn and vice-president Anne Fay took up their posts yesterday, the first time two women have filled the top two positions in the union’s 143-year history. Women outnumber men in primary school teaching by a ratio of nine to one.