Bullying of Teachers 24/03/08

INTO Press Release, Statement by Angela Dunne, INTO President, on Bullying of Teachers

24 March 2008

INTO President Calls for Anti-Bullying Policy

Angela Dunne, President of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, accused the Department of Education of failing in its duty to implement an anti-bullying policy to protect teachers from being bullied by inspectors.

She said that for more than three years the union had sought an anti-bullying policy to be used on the rare occasion when a teacher is the victim of bullying and harassment by an inspector. “But,” she claimed, “the Department has consistently refused to engage meaningfully on this issue.”

“The need for a robust bullying and harassment procedure has been raised again and again with the Inspectorate by the INTO,” she said. “It is the INTO’s position that it is unacceptable that the Inspectorate, as members of the civil service, are covered by a procedure which they refuse to extend to teachers.”

“We are seeking to progress this matter under Conciliation and Arbitration but so far without success.”

“It is about fairness, openness and transparency. It is about dignity at work for all. We are all entitled to a workplace free from bullying and harassment and the protection of proper procedures on the rare occasions when such events happen.”

She said the vast majority of inspectors do their job well but that did not absolve the Department from putting in place a procedure to deal with bullying when it did arise.

ENDS