April 1st: Unite, which represents English Language Teachers throughout Ireland, has urged employers to engage with the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme to ensure that teachers are retained in employment and the sector can restart once the current COVID-19 emergency is over.  The union also warned employers not to exploit the emergency in respect of members’ terms of conditions.

Commenting, Unite Regional Officer Brendan Byrne said:

“Like other sectors throughout the economy, the ELT sector has effectively been closed down as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.

“Unite would encourage employers to engage with the Temporary Wage Subsidy scheme to retain workers on the payroll, and to top their employees’ wages up to the maximum extent possible.  Where workers were laid off as a result of the pandemic, they should be rehired as provided for under the terms of the scheme.

“Given the profitability of the sector before the pandemic, thanks to the commitment and experience of teachers, Unite would urge schools to step up to the mark, avail of this scheme, and top up their workers’ wages to their normal level of earnings where possible.  We hope that schools will engage with the scheme, and we trust that no school will exploit this emergency in respect of our members’ terms and conditions”, Brendan Byrne concluded.