Classroom Assistants Dispute

by Jane - Classroom Assistant Wed Dec 05, 2007 13:56

I heard that Nipsa are taking this to court which in my opinion is the best way forward, us fighting with other unions just makes us stoop to their level and the press love to see us fightng, I say hold our heads high and take em to the courts, Nipsa have been right all along and Im proud to be part of a fighting union full of experienced and well informed officials.

by Katie - Classroom assistant Wed Dec 05, 2007 16:16

I agree with Jane,its a shame the unions couldnt stick together but we would be making a big mistake if we start rowing in public.The media would crucify us and the trade union community would be badly damaged.I joined nipsa to support the action and I have nothing but praise for the time and effort put in by John Corey in particular,but all his officials too,they kept us well informed and supported us on the picket lines when we were out.

by Heartened Wed Dec 05, 2007 23:44

I was heartened to see the following letter in Monday's Irish News, demonstrating Republican SF's continued support for the Classroom Assistants:

Striking classroom assistants 'are an inspiration to all exploited workers'

PAUL Butler (December 1) speaks with the forked tongue which has long been associated with the Provisionals.

Whilst claiming to support the classroom assistants and their right to strike, he subsequently condemns the format of their industrial action.

He argues that there is an "unacceptable impact" on children at special needs schools.

However, we in Republican Sinn Féin recognise that it is the refusal by management for some 12 years to treat them equitably which has affected the education of these children.

The Provos - both through Mr Butler and Stormont education minister Caitríona Ruane - seek to pressurise Nipsa into halting their strike action and accepting an entirely inadequate offer.

It is hardly surprising that they would wish to undermine the democratic processes of a union, given the fact that they represent a party which has systematically ignored the democratic processes within its own structures.

It is time that the Provos dropped all pretence of defending Republican and Socialist values, and ceased styling themselves as Sinn Féin - an organisation they departed from 21 years ago.

We in Sinn Féin (i.e. Republican Sinn Féin) will continue to support those seeking to protect their employment rights and believe that the striking classroom assistants are an inspiration to all exploited workers.

RISTEARD BREATHNACH
Sinn Féin Poblachtach

by solidarity seeker Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:02

I agree with Jane and Katie that unions fighting among themselves is an unfortunate situation. They quite rightly say the press will have a "Field day". However what has to be wieghed up is what are the consequences of brushing thing under the carpet. It is a well known fact that "Behind the scenes" many trade union officials have differences of opinion and heated debate about tactics. This situation however is in a completely different league. When another union deliberatately and quite cynically undermines industrial action by a "Sister" union you have to ask the question "Whose side are they on"? Don't forget any benifits gained by NIPSA would have applied to their own members too. So what possible reason could they have to try and scupper NIPSA's action? They obviously have another agenda that not only goes against NIPSA's aims it puts their own members interests into second place, a situation that no union member can tolerate. This leaves those who have trade unions and more importantly trade union values at heart with no option but to expose the dirty and secret dealings, even though it may look bad for a time, if the result is unions getting back to basics then it will be worth it. It is worth noting that the attacks are not on the unions themselves, (the rank and file members are still our brothers and sisters) but the leaderships of these unions who seem to be embarking on some kind of unofficial social partnership with management/government.

by John - NIPSA Thu Dec 06, 2007 16:49

In my opinion that is utter nonsense from RSF. Classroom assistants have a legitimate demand which we don't need to be damged by associations with extremists like RSF.

by Offended by John's comments Thu Dec 06, 2007 18:57

I must disagree with the remarks made by "John - NIPSA'".

Republican Sinn Féin are not 'extremists' - but are simply those who continue to adhere to Republican principles. I think it is great that they have stated their support for the Classroom Assistants who were, until recently, on strike. Right-wing fascists in the Provos may have sought to undermine the industrial action, but RSF have continued to defend the interests of the Irish people.

by worker Thu Dec 06, 2007 20:32

Excellent letter from Mr. Breathnach of RSF, was also great to see the statement in support from ye as well a few days ago!

by Ciarán Ó Brolcháin Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:04

Does anyone else feel that that RSF letter is as much (jf not more) about bashing the Shinners as supporting the classroom assistants?

On another note, I realise this is only two-and-a-half months late but I've finally got the videos from the march and rally on 26 September 2007 uploaded. Good to see NIPSA have stuck to their guns since this began.

Alison Miller - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Go8tqnNBzcU
Cecilia Mullen - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=PUZL8cl_dyo
John Corey - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=5NGhAFFao5U
Peter Bunting - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=aiC2lVJhReA
Janette Murdock - http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=e4BGC8i6zBw

by Emma - Classroom Assiatant Fri Dec 07, 2007 20:20

Am Glad to hear from the mouth of Peter Bunting that he "will stand with us until this dispute is resolved"...Go peter...am so glad of your support and the support of ICTU...DONT LET US DOWN!!!!!!

by Maureen - classroom assistant Sat Dec 15, 2007 13:25

I don't like the outcome of the dispute any more than anybody else,in fact I stand to lose badly out of it but I am still horrified as are many others at the undignified public name calling and squabbling between the unions that has sullied the whole thing.You shouldnt wash ur dirty linen in public and if a family has a quarrel it should be sorted out amongst the family.The management must be laughing,the unions are doing themselves more damage than they ever could and people will just walk away from the unions if this goes on.Talk about 'mutually assured destruction'! I admire John Corey and nipsa for doing their best for us but the nipsa genral counsel now needs to get a grip on this.

by Linda - Classroom Assistant Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:23

I totaly agree with you, now the offers of buy out are out among members and i know some of the classroom assistants I know will sign this, partly because they are sickened of the way certain branches of Nipsa have let us down by public name calling of other unions. I joined a Union becasue thats wat I thought it was..unity...wise up and sort this out in the courts before more members leave.

by solidarity seeker Tue Jan 15, 2008 13:46

There has been much huff and puff, claim and counter claim, attacks and responses. Now the figures are out, Let's see how certain Unions try and justify their actions.
Some Unions made outragous claims. GMB balloted 1570 members and got a 4-1 vote in favour of acceptance. UNISON spoke for 2500 members, and then claimed after their ballot a Majority of classroom assistants had accepted the offer. NIPSA however simply claimed to represent the majority of classroom assistants.So here are the figures obtained from the Education and Library Boards under the freedom of information act (Not suprisingly they wouldn't issue the figures until this was invoked).
NIPSA.....2679
UNISON..920
GMB..........243
The figures speak for themselves, but it's worth noting. As the GMB balloted 1570 members and got a 4-1 yes vote, their NO vote was still 314, so every GMB classroom assistant could of voted against the deal, yet still had it forced upon them. UNISON claimed 80% in favour of the deal (they were carefull to avoid ballot figures) but the maths is simple, 736 voted in favour. Taking GMB's 4-1 vote but applying it to their actual CA figures =195 in favour. Grand total 931 in favour 2679 against. Deal accepted , R.I.P democracy.
This is without even going into the nature of the ballots. UNISON's, we'll bring you the ballot paper, we'll stand over you while you vote, we'll take the ballots away, we'll count the ballots. What kind of sham democracy is that?

by Mags - Classroom assistant Tue Feb 05, 2008 14:30

What this shows is that half of all the classroom assistants are not in any union,so even if all the ones who are went out it wouldnt have been enough to do anything.Nipsa were the only ones who couldnt see that and they dragged some of their people out-not all of them,the ones in my school refused to go and so did others in other schools-for over a week for nothing.I am not a union member but if I was I would not join one that behaved that stupidly.