Teachers should back the Croke Park deal says BRIAN MOONEY

OVER 50,000 teachers are this week considering how they might vote in the ballot on the Croke Park deal for pay and reform in the public service.

My consideration of this issue comes against the backdrop of chaos in Greece, where three people have died in protests at the austerity measures which form part as of the EU/IMF rescue package. Every teacher – across the three teacher unions – has an obligation to vote. This is, arguably, the most important ballot for generations. We must all consider the consequences of acceptance or rejection of this deal for Irish society.

In considering my decision, I am very conscious that the driving force behind the Croke Park process was Kieran Mulvey, a former general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI).

John White, current general secretary negotiated for the ASTI; Pat Burke assistant general secretary of the Department of Education and Skills was also centrally involved in the negotiations.

I have worked closely with all three men during my career. They are imbued with a deep passion for the public service and a commitment to maintaining the quality of Ireland’s education system. A document worked out by these people is one we must take seriously.

The Croke Park agreement has been rejected by the ASTI executives and by the executive of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland. This reflects rage at the manner in which the State was mismanaged during the Celtic Tiger years. The anger is understandable. Many young teachers are trapped in negative equity and see no Government effort to rescue them. Meanwhile, they see billions being poured into zombie banks. But teachers must rise above this rage. Anger is not a policy. They must acknowledge the reality of where Ireland finds itself today.

Ireland sits on a knife edge both socially and economically. We are massively dependent on the international bond market to fund our €20 billion budget deficit. The interest we pay on that borrowing is determined by the degree of confidence the bond market has in our willingness to put our public finances in order. Every cent paid in interest is a cent less available for schools and hospitals. Any signal to this market that we do not have the will to take the pain that recovery demands will lead us to suffer the same fate as our Greek cousins.

It is not just a question of placating the bond markets.

In my view, the education chapter of the agreement represents the best possible deal in current circumstances.

The fears raised by teachers about the review of the teaching contract have been addressed in the clarification issued last week by the Department of Education.

It has confirmed that “the primary focus of the contract review would be to ensure full availability of the required class contact hours of 167 days at second level and 183 days at primary level for the delivery of tuition, while providing for those activities and functions integral to the functioning of the school (eg school planning and continuous professional development) without intrusion upon tuition time.” Having considered this matter very seriously, I have decided to vote in favour of the Croke Park deal. I would urge all my teaching colleagues in the ASTI and the other teacher unions to do likewise.

Brian Mooney teaches at Oatlands College, Stillorgan, Dublin