Trade Union Participation 24/3/08

INTO Press Release: Statement by Angela Dunne, INTO President, on Trade Union Participation

24 March 2008

Trade Union participation never more important says INTO President

INTO President Angela Dunne told delegates to the union’s annual conference in Kilkenny that active trade union participation has never been more important for teachers.

She said the public sector in particular was facing a savage onslaught to cut back on terms and conditions that had been hard won by previous generations of workers.

“The vital importance of active trade union membership was never as obvious in a society where the rich get richer and those on average salaries are left behind.  “We have a private sector that actively seeks to exploit workers and undermine and any union involvement amongst their workforce. This is part of the reason for inferior pensions in this sector,” she said.

For the last year the INTO at both national and local level has committed itself to a process of regeneration by engaging with and challenging our many newly qualified teachers on the issue of active participation within the union. “Cultures and outlooks have also changed amongst younger workers and for them, the need to organise within the trade union movement is not always obvious.

“However I say to younger teachers that active commitment to the INTO is vital both in terms of working conditions as well as ensuring a full input to the development of the profession.”

“Interaction with the INTO will ensure that you will continue to have a significant influence in the development of Irish primary education in the years ahead. Interaction with INTO will also ensure that working conditions will be protected and improved on.  Nothing should be taken for granted.”

“All our achievements have been chiselled out from unsympathetic governments and remember that without the chisellers and the chiselling we won't achieve anything.”

She said she had every confidence that younger union members would deliver on the challenge. “Our young teachers are highly qualified, hugely professional in their outlook and are confident and competent in the classroom.

She said she was delighted to see so many young people at the union’s conference in Kilkenny.

“The INTO is a long established organisation and every generation has made its own mark within our union. I confidently predict that this generation will make a major one.” 

ENDS