eltireland – Unite ELT

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

Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the
Public Interest) Bill 2020

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

Covid-19 Jobseeker’s Emergency Payment Guide

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 cl o se. 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.

WHO Guidelines

Don’t forget that during all this it is important to look after fellow teachers and we never stop our ongoing campaigns.

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 23^rd] 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