Disruption to schools as teachers begin industrial action

Primary and secondary schools across the country are likely to experience disruptions from today as teachers commence industrial action over delays in agreeing a new public sector pay deal.

Members of the INTO and ASTI are commencing action in the form of a work-to-rule.

In some schools, it will mean disruptions to early drop-offs and late collections outside of school hours.

INTO members will no longer cooperate with Croke Park hours which will lead to the withdrawal of pre- and post-school supervision, meaning that pupils can only be on school premises during official school hours.

Members will also refrain from attending staff meetings and formal parent-teacher meetings outside of school hours.

A directive to ASTI members in secondary schools will see non-cooperation with Croke Park hours, non-cooperation with meetings held outside of normal school hours, and non-cooperation with phone, email, and other forms of electronic communication.

Members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) will begin industrial action in the form of a work-to-rule from Monday, 12 October.

More than 100,000 public sector workers began work-to-rule action last week ahead of a planned strike on 14 October.

Unions have accused the Government of failing to make meaningful commitments on pay following the expiration of the last public sector pay deal on 30 June.

They want cost-of-living concerns to be addressed at the outset of any negotiations.

The Government has said it is willing to enter talks but that it will not be held to preconditions or a predetermined outcome.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has said that the industrial action is unfair on the public and unfair when the Government is willing to engage with unions either directly or through the Workplace Relations Commission.