2015 was when the College Closure Crisis was at its height. At this point, 11 ELT schools had closed in Dublin alone.
Two more schools were crumbling in April 2015. Linked by ownership, MEC and NCBA had issued IOUs instead of pay at the end of
April.Teachers stopped working and students protested in support. Students formed MEC Student Union and on Tuesday, 5th May 2015, they marched from the Oscar Wilde statue to the QQI headquarters on Denzille Lane, to the Garda National Immigration Bureau on the quays, and to the Dáil, winning national media attention for their demand that the Minister for Education #RegulateNow.
An organiser from Unite observed the march that day. Impressed, he joined us.
He helped us go on to build this Ireland-wide ELT branch and become a part of the Joint Labour Committee talks happening this year to finally regulate for better employment in our sector.
This was the day Unite united with us.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/education/language-school-protests-hundreds-non-eu-5641850
https://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0505/698740-language-schools-education/
https://www.thejournal.ie/english-language-college-closures-ireland-2085691-May2015/
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/international-students-hold-protest-in-dublin-city-centre-1.220051
Branch Newsletter 2020
ELT Branch Statement
Following two extensive branch meetings and further consultation with our members, we wish to convey the following.
The Unite ELT branch states that:
Schools must communicate clearly and immediately with teachers in writing about their employment situation and pay. Teachers must also be given weekly updates in writing on this matter. Teachers must not be forced to take their holidays to cover the closure period.
Teachers are under no obligation to teach online. However, if they choose to do so, all training, preparation and correction time for online teaching must be paid at the normal contracted rate.
All necessary equipment and support for teaching must be provided by the schools. Class duration and size must be reduced as appropriate for online teaching. Employees must continue to be paid at their average weekly wage, even if online teaching is not available or they are unable to do it.
Rent and mortgage payments must be waived for the duration of the crisis and there must be a guarantee of no evictions. There should be no accrued debt as a result of this waiver.
Employers must negotiate with the union immediately in order to achieve the best outcomes for workers, students, public health and their businesses.
We also wish to extend our deepest solidarity to all other branches and workers. Please get in touch if you require our help.
Unite has also called for the establishment of an Emergency Forum.
Covid-19 – School Closures Information
20/03/20
BRANCH MEETING Today
ELT Unite is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Branch Member Motions
Time: Mar 19, 2020 15:00 – 16:00 PM
Please check your spam filters for an email from the branch. We will be discussing a document included. In addition, please bring your proposals, known as motions, to the meeting for consideration and approval by the branch.
If you have any questions please get in touch.
18/03/20
COVID-19 and your Rights as a Worker – Updated 18 March 2020
16/03/20
Information for workers facing layoff and/or requiring Department of Social Protection Support
March 16th: With regard to the COVID-19 situation, further updates have been issued through the Department of Employment & Social Protection to Trade Unions.
This information focuses on workers in lay-off situations and requiring and needing to deal with the Department.
Please read the information in full and follow the guidelines as set out.
Please also circulate this information to any colleagues, friends or family who you think may find themselves in these circumstances.
You can also access the Guide via this link.
Yours in solidarity
Brendan Ogle – Senior Officer – Republic of Ireland – 16/03/20
13/03/20
Unite and Your Rights as a Worker
Hello to all members and non-members. Our schools have been forced to close, take classes online or perhaps, in some circumstances, keep going on a skeleton basis. The issue is that we need to gather information and establish courses of action.
Our branch is volunteer run and is always looking for new members to help. We will be holding remote meetings for members so please click here to join if you wish to participate.
Further information on schools, Unite and Government responses can be found in here in the information section of the site.
From 6pm, 12 March 2020, all schools, colleges and childcare facilities will close. Pupils should take their books and learning materials home with them this evening. While children are at home, they should practice social distancing such as minimising social contact, avoiding meeting up and keeping physical space between them and other people.
HSE
All members who have been laid off temporarily are advised to go to their local social welfare office and sign on immediately. If you need help with this please get in touch with us. If you have documentation from your employer please take that with you too, in order to ease the processing of your claim. You are not obliged to use your holiday leave, you should be paid either by the school or the state.
Citizens Information have further information if you follow this link.
Don’t forget that during all this it is important to look after fellow teachers and we never stop our ongoing campaigns.
Delfin Strike Update
Since 2018 our members have tried to engage with Delfin with regard to their terms and conditions of employment and they have genuine concerns. They just want somebody to go in with a professional face on and be able to put forward their claims and what they feel is justifiable for their hours and their holidays.
Get paid for doing work they don’t get paid for at the moment. It’s as simple as that.
The sector is precarious. The students have certain guarantees if one of the schools or colleges goes bankrupt. Those students will transfer to to other schools. But there’s no certainty for our members in regard to their terms and conditions and what contracts they have. The company can employ people and let people go at short notice.
They are resolute.
Not one student has crossed the picket line.
We’re in a process with the labour court and hopefully the labour court will issue a recommendation to the minister on whether there should be an employment regulation order for the entire sector and that will be legally binding.
Brendan Byrne – Unite Regional Industrial Officer
Delfin English Language Teachers Strike
Delfin dispute escalates, English Language Teachers strike!
Full-day stoppage follows management’s refusal of collective bargaining.
Trade union Unite, which represents all teachers working in Delfin English School, will picket the school Delfin Dublin from 09.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs October 7th. The escalation of this dispute follows repeated attempts by Unite to engage with management in a bid to address workers’ concerns.
“Management has consistently refused to address teachers’ concerns or to negotiate with them collectively through the union of their choice, leaving workers with no option but to take industrial action said Unite Regional Officer Brendan Byrne, further stating that
“Our members have been trying to address a range of issues from low pay to unpaid breaks and what amount to temporary lay-offs over Christmas.
“The resolution of this dispute is in the hands of management: they just need to pick up the phone and talk to their workers through their union, Unite.
“This is the first strike action in a sector where precarious working conditions are the norm. Unless schools move to engage with workers collectively, it is unlikely that tomorrow’s action will be the last in the sector”, Mr Byrne warned.
Follow and share @eltunite.com
Updates to follow
KFM – Teachers At Delfin English School Are On Strike Today
Delfin is indifferent.
On Monday morning a strike for dignity, respect and workplace democracy occurs. Please offer whatever support you feel appropriate during the work stoppage. If you have an afternoon class and can spare an hour to stand beside your fellow teacher then please do. If not, then find out about the work stoppage through the following information and share it with your fellow workers, family and friends. Only with our combined effort and support can we achieve our goals.
Good Luck and Solidarity!
ELT Unite Branch
Industrial action at prominent school set for Monday [September 23rd] in dispute over pay and conditions in a sector notorious for its precarious work practices
Delfin Language School based on Parnell Square, has refused to recognise and negotiate with representatives of Unite the Union, the union that represents the English Language teachers. Unite Regional Officer Brendan Byrne explained the reasons for the dispute between the workforce and management.
“The workers have been left with no alternative but to take industrial action as a result of the approach taken by management. They have totally failed to address the concerns of the workforce in relation to three main areas of contention: the need for pay to reflect the increased cost of living, the volume of unpaid work done by English Language Teachers on a daily basis, and the fact that teachers are left with no choice but to sign on for social welfare payments over the Christmas period.
“The workforce has attempted continuously to engage with management through Unite’s best offices. Unfortunately management has adopted an approach of refusing to recognise or negotiate with ourselves.
“From speaking to the workers, the overall feeling is one of regret that things have come to this point. The teachers want to do their jobs but working conditions in the sector are just unacceptable. Management’s consistent refusal to engage collectively with workers through their trade union, Unite, has left the workers with no option but to take action. The workers have decided to restrict their initial action to only a three hour stoppage – hopefully this will act as a catalyst for management to adopt a more conciliatory approach”, Mr Byrne said.
Link to original
Updates…
Next Mon 23rd Sept will see the first Unite picket on a language school in Ireland. Delfin Teachers have been refused collective bargaining rights and are exercising their right to take strike action.Please RT and ask @Delfinschool to respect their teachers & recognise the union.
— keith murdiff (@KeithMurdiff) September 20, 2019
People Before Profit – Full support for English Teacher in historic dispute
Socialist Party – Interview with Delfin English Language School striker
Newstalk –Teachers at an English language school in Dublin city are to hold a three-hour work stoppage
ELT Unite joins the Global Climate Strike
Students and teachers all over the world are joining again together to fight the existential threat that faces us. The ELT unite branch would like to kindly facilitate you in teaching your students with our free lesson plan.
Don’t forget to join the protests.
Follow us on Instagram @eltunite and perhaps we can protest together at an event near each other. This is one of the Dublin events but other events near you can be located on the Global Climate Strike website.
Dublin March to Merrion Square
More resources and information can be found at the following link.
Unite ELT Ireland
Commercial English Language Sector Report
After months of successful engagement with our branch we thank Mr. Patrick King for his careful and concise report on the sector. It is rare to have a document which encapsulates the reasons for our existence as a motivating and organising force in the sector.
Welcome to the official home of the English Language Teachers branch of Unite. We hope that any information you need about the sector can be found here. If you can’t find what you’re looking for please get in touch and we’ll be happy to find the relevant information and add it to the website.
Covid-19 Response Survey
Click here to take our most recent survey.
JLC Branch Meeting, Saturday February 15th
For information about what a Joint Labour Committee is then click here. Also visit our press section for more information.
If you are an English Language Teacher the please also take the time to complete our the following survey in advance of the Joint Labour Committee. Thank you in advance.
ELT Unite Joint Labour Committee Survey
ELT Unite Supports TUI Strike
ELT Unite and its fellow branches fully support our brothers and sisters in the Teachers Union of Ireland in their strike action commencing today.
All of our members, especially those at Delfin and Ibat, are aware that the TUI stood shoulder to shoulder with us on many issues, especially on the picket lines. No system of inequality will survive the persistent and dedicated solidarity of those who teach.
Pay discrimination must never be accepted and we implore all who can join the picket to do so.
The following measures are required to end pay discrimination:
Elimination of the remaining differences in the early points of scale for ‘new entrant’ grades (Teacher, Assistant Lecturer, Youthreach Resource Person, BTEI Adult Educator, Adult Guidance Counsellor/Co-ordinator, Adult Literacy Organiser and Community Education FacilitatorTeacher, Assistant Lecturer etc)
Commencement on point 3 of scale in recognition of the six-year (primary degree and PME) unpaid training period
IBAT and Delfin Strike
Pickets continue today at Delfin English School while members in IBAT have also voted to take industrial action and will be holding a series of one-hour stoppages with the potential for escalation if issues in dispute are not resolved.
Teachers at Delfin have been taking strike action from November 11th to November 15th and will continue to do so from December 2nd to December 6th. Teachers at IBAT have held and will be holding one-hour stoppages (morning and afternoon) during the week, today, and Friday, as well as on November 18th, 22nd, 25th and 29th.
Commenting, Unite Regional Officer Brendan Byrne said:
“The international education sector, of which ELT is a large part, is booming, with the government projecting that the value of the sector will grow to over €2 billion by next year. Committed, experienced and highly-skilled teachers are central to that success, yet they are often low-paid and often employed on precarious contracts.
“Rather than talking collectively to teachers about their concerns through the union of their choice, school management often rely on a culture of intimidation to squeeze pay and conditions while maximising their profits.
“Based on the feedback from our members, Unite believes that unrest in the sector will continue to spread unless and until there is a negotiated collective agreement. We are hopeful that the Labour Court will recommend such an agreement in the near future”, Mr Byrne said.
Article 28 of the EU charter of fundamental rights states that workers and employers, or their respective organisations, have, in accordance with Community law and national laws and practices, the right to negotiate and conclude collective agreements at the appropriate levels and, in cases of conflicts of interest, to take collective action to defend their interests, including strike action. Our own national legislation supports and encourages harmonious relations between workers and employers.
Support our Strike
