Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 April 2004
89 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science when the benchmarking award will be made to primary school secretaries employed under the 1978 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11101/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe terms of Sustaining Progress provide that the final two phases of the benchmarking increase and the general round increases is dependent, in the case of each grade, sector and organisation on verification of co-operation with flexibility and change, satisfactory implementation of the agenda for modernisation, maintenance of stable industrial relations and absence of industrial action on matters covered by the agreement.
IMPACT issued an instruction to its members who are school secretaries not to make any supervision/substitution payments to teachers in respect of absences now covered by the revised supervision/substitution scheme. This instruction is related to a claim for additional payments and re-gradings for school secretaries for work associated with the scheme.
The position of my Department is that work associated with the revised scheme for supervision and substitution is within the scope of the Sustaining Progress agreement and is comprehended by clause 19.6 which precludes strikes or other forms of industrial action in respect of matters covered by the agreement. The agreement also provides for full co-operation with the introduction of new schemes and initiatives and changes to existing schemes which are a routine feature of the work of public service organisations.
The agreement further provides that implementation of initiatives in the areas of flexibility and change will not give rise to claims for increased rewards for staff in the form of promotions, re-gradings, allowances or other benefits, clause 21.2, and contemplates disputes being resolved by agreement or adjudication rather than by industrial action, clause 19.8.
In the circumstances it is considered that the union action represents a breach of the Sustaining Progress agreement and accordingly prevents payment of the associated wage increases.
This matter was the subject of discussions locally and at the Labour Relations Commission, in accordance with terms of the Sustaining Progress agreement, but remains unresolved. The matter has now been jointly referred to the Labour Court for a determination, the outcome of which will be accepted by both sides.
