Sir, - I am a 23-year-old teacher, and a member of the ASTI. I wish to express my anger at the fact that the Department of Education deducted my salary for three "work to rule" days recently. It is my right to work to rule, and it is illegal to deduct my salary for doing so. On these days I made myself available to teach, and I did teach any students who presented themselves. The Minister expects me to do this free of charge. I was in school every day as normal and have evidence of this. I attended a parent-teacher meeting on one work-to-rule day, and I stayed speaking to parents until after five o'clock. Further deductions will be made from my salary in January, for the remaining work-to-rule days.
The Minister cannot determine accurately which teachers are ASTI members, and as a result there are some ASTI members whose pay has not been altered. This is unfair.
It is the year 2001, and workers have rights. Even though I have always wanted to teach, I cannot afford to do so anymore. My salary is an insult to my training and qualifications, and there is very serious danger that teaching as a profession will no longer attract high-quality graduates. - Yours, etc.,
Eidin Gallagher, Woodfarm Acres, Palmerstown, Dublin 20.