TEACHER'S PET:What is the biggest issue facing the teacher unions? After last week's conferences, perhaps it is the huge generation gap developing in all three unions
Increasingly, the unions appears to be speaking with two voices. The older group are naturally focused on pensions. But there is a younger group battling with negative equity. At times, this group are understandably sceptical of older, better-off colleagues who are middle class and comfortable. One young teacher, Emer Holly from Limerick, told ASTI delegates: “I’ve been looking at the photos [of the teacher conferences] in the papers, and no offence, but everyone here is old. There is an ageing demographic here. Pensions are important to them.’’
But the case of young, non- permanent teachers was equally deserving of attention. If you’re young and go to ASTI meetings, you are asked why you bother by young colleagues, she said. “There are letters from the ASTI lying unopened in our staff rooms – young people use text, e-mails – that’s what the ASTI should be doing, reaching out to younger members using their channels.’’
The big question now? Is it time for union bosses John Carr, John White and Peter McMenamin to Twitter?
Much soul-searching and angst in the INTO about that controversial speech by Declan Kelleher when, in his presidential speech, he called for a left-wing government. It all made for a lively interview on the new 4FM when presenter Tom McGurk asked Kelleher if he was a member of the Socialist Workers Party. In fact, Kelleher, the best INTO president in years, is not a member of any party.
The INTO was traditionally regarded as the teaching wing of Fianna Fáil. Has it ditched the Soldiers of Destiny?
Dublin teacher Anna O’Loughlin was the undoubted media star of the teacher conference season. She told delegates and listeners to The Pat Kenny Show how she had to survive on €94 per week because of a fixed monthly mortgage of more than €1,300.
For months, O’Loughlin had been seeking a meeting with junior minister and her local TD Conor Lenihan to discuss her case and for months she was left waiting. But last Wednesday morning, the call came through from the Minister’s office, just after her radio appearance.
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