The following information has issued to branch officers and workplace representatives.
As you are aware, the members of the TUI have, by ballot, decided to accept the Department of Education and Skills/TUI Agreement of May 2016. By virtue of this decision, members of the Union are covered by the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The pay restoration measures and other protections associated with the LRA will, therefore, apply to members of the Union.
As matters stand, it is possible that members of the ASTI will not be covered by the LRA, following expiry of the Haddington Road Agreement (at the end of June 2016). Members of the ASTI have, by ballot, decided to authorise the issue of a directive to withdraw from the 33 Croke Park Agreement (CPA) hours. In the event that such a directive issues, the ensuing situation will require to be managed in a way that is respectful of all parties.
In this context, the TUI is issuing the following clarification to members in regard to the 33 CPA hours:
- TUI members should engage with the normal planning process for usage of the 33 hours. This involves the development of a calendar and of consensus, as appropriate (in relation to blocks of more than 2 hours or scheduling outside of 167 days).
- Members of the TUI should be available to fulfil each element of their commitment in respect of the 33 hours, as set out in the school’s calendar for 2016/17.
- Arising from the DES/TUI Agreement of May 2016, and effective from the commencement of the 2016/17 school year, 8 of the 33 hours are for use in blocks of no less than 30 minutes and on other than a whole-school basis, in accordance with the terms of CL43/2014.
- If as a result of an action by the ASTI, management decides not to proceed with some element of the calendar for scheduled usage of the 33 hours (for example, a staff day), the TUI will regard members affected by that decision as having fulfilled that element of their commitment. If, for example, the day was scheduled to utilise 5 (or more) of the CPA hours, TUI will regard members as having done those hours.
- Of course, if the ASTI is in dispute in relation to the 33 hours, a member of the TUI may not, in the course of usage of the 33 hours, undertake any work normally done by a member of the ASTI.