INDUSTRIAL action by the Irish National Teachers' Association (INTO) will take place at two schools this week "as it begins a campaign for more consultation in the allocation of teachers. Yesterday, union's executive announced "with a sense of regret" a programme of balloting members on industrial action involving loo primary schools.
Industrial action will take place at Nenagh Convent national school, Tipperary, this week and at Castledermot national school, Kildare. This action will escalate at the beginning of the school year in September.
"In deciding the allocation of teachers to schools for the next year, the Minister has chosen,"to ignore parents and teachers and go her own way, thereby creating unprecedented chaos and uncertainty in the staffing arrangements," said the INTO, general secretary, Mr Joe O'Toole.
He added that there was complete confusion and absolutely no logic about the entitlement of schools to teaching staff for next year". This was the first time since 1987 the Department of Education had not sought agreement with management and the INTO. The problem could be sorted out "without any money" if the Minister was prepared to listen to parents, teachers and management.