In the recent ballot, TUI members voted to take industrial action, including strike action of up to 2 days, in co-operation with the other teacher unions, in support of the 10-point plan for national recovery proposed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.  

In the event of a failure by Government to re-engage, the teacher unions have decided that the industrial action will be organised on a co-ordinated basis in conjunction with the ICTU and its affiliated unions and will involve a national work stoppage on Monday 30th March. At this time we have no further information in this regard but will, of course, advise members as events unfold.

As you know, Monday 30th is the first day of the second week of the Leaving Certificate oral tests and of the Leaving and Junior Certificate Music and Junior Certificate Home Economics practical tests. The State Examinations Commission has decided that in the event of the work stoppage going ahead it would not be practicable to hold the oral or practical tests on that day.

Under a nationally agreed protocol, the TUI and the other teacher unions are committed to facilitating the conduct of the state examinations - which are regarded as an essential service. Therefore, although the work stoppage necessarily has implications for the conduct of the tests, the unions have sought, in conjunction with the education partners, to minimise and manage those implications. To that end, the State Examinations Commission has engaged in detailed discussions with the teacher unions and the other partners – school managers, parents and principals – and it is agreed that it would be best to continue to plan to conduct all tests within the scheduled period of 23rd March to 3rd April.

In the event of 30th March not being available:

• the oral tests scheduled for the week commencing 30th will be conducted in the four remaining days of that week  and
• the practical tests will be conducted in any 5 of the 9 remaining days from 23rd March to 3rd April

This arrangement, should it be necessary, clearly involves the co-operation and flexibility of schools and examiners. The State Examinations Commission has communicated with examiners in this regard. The union would also urge members to co-operate with the arrangement.