Unions press ahead with strike plans despite renewed negotiations over public sector pay
TEACHERS from 60 schools across Limerick will attend a city centre rally and not stage pickets at schools, should Thursday’s public sector strike go ahead.
The strike is set to take place in the form of eight regional rallies. Teachers’ union members have overwhelmingly voted to strike.
Speaking to Limerick Voice, Jacqueline Hayes, Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) branch officer, Tipperary North Branch, said, ‘There will be no pickets at our workplaces. Instead, members are directed to attend their nearest rally and stand alongside colleagues from across the public service. Rallies will take place in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Letterkenny, Tullamore, and Waterford.”
There are over 160 primary and secondary schools across Limerick that will be closed or largely affected by the strike. Various teacher unions have differing instructions over the industrial action, with some working to rule and some attending rallies and striking.
Jacqueline Hayes added, “Other Unions on Work to Rule Members must not, under any circumstances, take on any work or duties of members of other unions who are participating in industrial action.”
University of Limerick Unite (UL Unite) members will picket at the University. Fergal O’Brien, UL Unite convener, he said the demand for picketing places at UL had exceeded capacity, resulting in some members being redirected to attend the Limerick rally instead.
He also commented that, “A further day of Industrial Action in relation to Public Sector Pay will take place on Thursday, 12th November. As a member of UL Unite, I am instructing you to withdraw labour on that day and to participate fully in the industrial action.”
UL Unite remaining members will attend the Limerick rally at 12:00 after picketing in the morning.
The strike’s main objective is to protest the government’s failure to make a credible pay offer that can be balloted on by members.
This new industrial action follows on from the strike on October 14th, which was about the same issues over pay. The government proposed a new pay deal in hopes of stopping the strike and coming to an agreement with the public sector.
This pay deal was leaked over the weekend before teachers’ union members could meet to decide.
The strike will coincide with the largest EU presidency event, which is taking place in Dublin. Around 300000 public sector workers are set to strike if a deal is not agreed.
Talks have taken place over the last couple of days, but the strike is still set to take place. The Gardai have voted against their work-to-rule and are set to work normally on Thursday.
The industrial action will affect many people, as many kids will have no school to go to on Thursday, leaving many parents in a difficult situation. The teachers see the strike as a way to force the issue of a new public sector pay agreement.
Teachers, as well as other public servants, seek the pay agreement which was not negotiated by the government over the summer.
Jacqueline Hayes said, “Our final aim is that we achieve a public pay sector agreement which keeps up with inflation and provides a pathway for a new public sector agreement which will set targets for the next few years,” when speaking about this.