14 January, 2015 - Statement by Jan O’Sullivan, TD Minister for Education and Skills - No Basis for Continued Strike Action in Schools Despite Inconclusive Talks
The Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan, TD, today repeated her call to teacher unions to halt the planned one day strike on January 22nd next.
The Minister was speaking following inconclusive talks with both the ASTI and TUI today in relation to the implementation of Junior Cycle reform.
“Unfortunately substantial progress was not achieved at today’s talks. There is a significant gap between both sides and I am still waiting on the teacher unions to respond in kind to the fair and reasonable compromise I tabled in November.
Pauric Travers has agreed to liaise with both sides about how further talks can take place and the Minister has indicated that she is willing to continue to engage in these talks.
“Today I strongly repeated my call to both teacher unions to halt the one day strike in our schools they have announced for January 22nd next. This action is entirely disproportionate. It will result in our second-level students missing another day at school, cause inconvenience to parents across the country and result in teachers losing another day’s pay. There is no basis for this strike action – I have moved significantly to achieve agreement and both sides should seriously engage in negotiation on that basis. This dispute will not be advanced one iota by continued strike action.
“Junior Cycle reform is necessary and overdue. Parents’ organisations, the Irish Second Level Students Union, management bodies and a wide range of education experts are fully supportive of my reform package. Industrial action should cease as I believe that more detailed talks can result in progress.”
Ends.