Teacher unions to table joint motion over vaccine priority schedule
The conferences of the country’s three teacher trade unions are continuing today. By Adam Daly Wednesday 7 Apr 2021, 8:55 AM 2 hours ago 16,633 Views 91 Comments
Image: PA
Updated 1 hour ago
THE COUNTRY’S THREE teachers’ unions are expected to table a motion asking that teachers be moved back up the vaccine priority schedule at their annual conferences this morning.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) agreed to a joint motion yesterday, which will look at options on industrial action if members are not moved up the priority list.
The Association of Secondary Teachers’ Ireland (ASTI) also supported the motion by an overwhelming majority.
The joint motion before all three conferences condemns the recent changes which were announced by Government without consultation with workers’ representatives.
It demands that the government re-instates education staff as a priority group within the national vaccination programme.
The motion says this is necessary because of the essential nature of their work which requires them to be in daily contact with a large number of persons from a large number of households.
It also noted that social distancing is problematic and not assured given the crowded nature, structure and layout of their workplaces.
Under the current jab schedule, teachers and SNAs are set to receive their Covid-19 vaccines with the rest of the population.
According to RTÉ News, the unions say changes to Ireland s vaccine schedule were announced by Government without consultation with workers representatives.
The motion, which includes strike action as a possibility, says that teachers should be moved up the vaccine priority list as the essential nature of their work which requires them to be in daily contact with a large number of people from a large number of households and because social distancing is problematic and not assured given the crowded nature, structure and layout of our workplaces.
Taoiseach signals Government will not change vaccine priority for teachers All three unions back motion to hold ballots on industrial action as Foley defends changes
about 16 hours ago Updated: about 7 hours ago
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin has signalled that the Government will not be deviating from the scientific advice to allocate Covid-19 vaccines by age, after teachers’ unions threatened strike action over the re-prioritisation of vaccination.
Mr Martin was speaking after teachers’ unions said they are to hold ballots for strike action unless the Government agrees to prioritise their members for vaccination by the end of the current school year.
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