Vote 'YES' in current ballot to protect Part-time and Fixed-term teachers and lecturers

By piofficer, Monday, 23rd May 2016 | 0 comments

The Executive Committee of TUI recommends that members vote 'YES' to accept the proposed Department of Education and Skills/TUI agreement.

The Ward Report is the product of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA). Under the HRA, an Expert Group on Part-time and Fixed-term work in Teaching was established. Subsequently, Mr. Peter Ward was appointed as Chair of the Expert Group.

As an initial measure, the HRA reduced the qualifying period for a CID from four to three years.

The Ward Report issued in September 2014 and the Circular Letter (CL 24/2015) implementing it followed in March 2015. The Circular Letter gives effect to the collective agreement and the collective agreement, secured by the TUI, does better for members than the law (Protection of Employees – Fixed-term – Act 2003). It gives permanency by way of a CID after two years, gives increased hours in a CID after one year in those hours and it limits the (objective) grounds for not awarding a CID. The law (the 2003 Act) provides permanency only after four years and increased hours only after a further four years.

If the TUI is not covered by a collective agreement, the Ward report will not apply. We are covered by the HRA until 30th June. The only collective agreement from 1st July 2016 is the LRA.

Government has confirmed that the Ward report recommendations will not apply to the members of a union not in the LRA. This is not a matter of speculation. It is a matter of fact.  

The Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have categorically reiterated this position.

The continued implementation of the Ward report recommendations under Circular Letter 24/2015 is very important to members. Securing permanent employment, even on part-time hours, is a vital step towards full employment.

The recently issued Cush report – the Third Level equivalent of the Ward Report - also arises from the HRA. It provides for award of a CID after 2 years and for increase in the hours of a CID after a further one year in those hours. It too is available only to those covered by a collective agreement – again, the LRA.

The TUI Executive wants to improve the employment of members, not gamble with it. For this reason, among others, the TUI Executive is recommending that you vote 'YES'. 

Gerry Quinn, President, TUI
John MacGabhann, General Secretary, TUI

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