Annual Congress 2013 – Galway 2nd - 4th April 2013
Watch John MacGabhann's opening speech here.
Watch President Gerard Craughwell's opening address here.
Click here to watch a slideshow of photos from Congress 2013.
Read the motions passed at Congress 2013 in the May edition of TUI News.
TUI will oppose imposition of arbitrary and oppressive public service proposals, says TUI General Secretary John MacGabhann
TUI General Secretary John MacGabhann today advised Government that, following the result of its ballot, TUI will vote against the LRC proposals on a Public Service Agreement at meeting of the Public Services Committee of ICTU in mid-April and furthermore, the union will continue to oppose imposition of the proposals following this. TUI will be asking ICTU to “respect and support” this position, he said.
In his opening address to the TUI Annual Congress, which began in Galway today, Mr MacGabhann called on the Government to use the taxation system to ensure a just and balanced approach in the national response to the crisis. “Those who earn most should pay most. It is as simple as that”, he said.
Speaking about the public service proposals as they apply to education, Mr MacGabhann said: “In education sector talks, oppressive and unnecessary further productivity was demanded of teachers and lecturers. The reckless, arbitrary nature of these demands owes nothing to the real needs of the public education system, knows nothing of the huge commitment currently provided by teachers and lecturers and cares not at all either for those teachers and lecturers or for the learners whom they serve and the society from which those learners are drawn.” Mr MacGabhann expressed concern at the “excessive” powers that have been given to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to regulate public services, including public education services. “Public servants have been treated by DPER as if they are the enemy rather than the bulwark of the state”, he said.
Mr MacGabhann also highlighted the crisis of casualisation in the education system and the appalling treatment of new entrants to teaching and lecturing. “As matters now stand, approximately 30% of the members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland are in part-time employment. The great majority of those members are also in fixed term (i.e. temporary) employment. We have sought to put a face on and give a voice to these members of ours, many of whom are suffering what, in absolute terms, is income poverty.”
“Theirs is a form of indentured labour”, he said. “They are used and abused. They have no stability, no guarantee of continuity in the career they have chosen, no credit worthiness when they cross the threshold of one of our socialised banks. For them, life is on hold and, while relatively new to their profession, they are not necessarily very young.”
“In combating casualisation, four issues will need address. Contracts of Indefinite Duration must be given where an entitlement exists. A process of conversion to permanency is required for those in their second or subsequent year of fixed term employment. The practice of appointing people in the first instance to permanent positions must be restored. The pre-2011 pay scales must apply to all teachers and lecturers.”
Click here for the full text of John MacGabhann's speech.