Six schools locally to close due to tomorrow's strike

 

Families across Westmeath are putting in place emergency arrangements to have their children cared for tomorrow, Thursday, as teachers in some schools hold a one-day strike.
There is also a threat that some schools may have difficulty operating at all following the mid-term break when a ban by teachers on supervision and substitution duties kicks in.
The strike has been launched by members of the ASTI union.
The actions planned do not affect the LWETB schools – Mullingar and Castlepollard Community Colleges and Columba College, Killucan.
However, those that are affected are all the voluntary schools largely the religious or formerly religious-run schools: St Finian's, Coláiste Mhuire and Loreto College in Mullingar; St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge, Mercy, Kilbeggan and Wilson's Hospital School, Multyfarnham.
The boards of management of a number of the schools are due to hold emergency meetings this week to discuss whether they will be able to provide cover for substitution and supervision duties. Any that can't are likely to be unable to re-open – and it is understood that in such cases, teachers may not be paid and that there could be a “lockout”.
Although nationally the Department of Education has advertised for people to undertake substitution and supervision, schools are concerned that recruits won't be garda vetted or trained in time for the scheduled reopening date, which is November 7.
This Thursday's one-day action is the first of a series of one-day strikes arranged by the ASTI.
The other strike days are Tuesday November 8, Wednesday November 16, Thursday November 24, Tuesday November 29, Tuesday December 6 and Wednesday December 7.
Brian Burke, who teaches at St Kieran's School in Kells, and who is spokesperson for the ASTI region of which Westmeath is a part, explained that the seven one-day strikes are in protest over the pay scales for new entrants to teaching, and for those who entered the field since 2011.
The withdrawal from supervision and substitution duties is over a separate issue he explained: “The argument is that under the previous agreement we were part of initially, we were asked to do supervision and substitution free of charge – which we did – on condition that this September we would receive some money into our salary,” says Mr Burke, explaining that the sum involved was €800.
“It hasn't been paid, so the result was we balloted our members on whether to withdraw from supervision and substitution."