Unprecedented disruption to public services is most certainly on the cards for next Monday, March 30th as ICTU launches their “There is a Better Fairer Way” campaign of action. The following unions have been balloted & will take strike action next Monday:
- INTO (Irish National Teachers Organisation)
- ASTI (Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland)
- TUI (Teachers Union of Ireland)
- TEEU (Technical, Engineering & Electrical Union)
- INO (Irish Nurses Organisation)
- MANDATE
- SIPTU (Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union)
The three main teachers unions taking strike action will result in the closure of all mainstream primary schools and secondary schools. ASTI and TUI members will also be implementing a “work to rule” system from March 31st. Leaving certificate oral language exams will be affected in some schools as a result of the strike while some university students will also be affected.
Airport services in the country’s three main airports, Cork, Dublin and Shannon, are to face major disruption while employee members of the TEEU and SIPTU take strike action between 4am and 12am next Monday.
Hospital services could also feel the effects of strike action if INO members decide to take strike action. They have already voted to support ICTU’s campaign and are meeting this week to decide on futher steps including the possibility of work stoppages, picketing hospitals and operating a “work to rule”. The organisation have also launched a website to monitor cutbacks and their effects on the public health service, www.stophealthcuts.ie, where they are inviting visitors to “share your story, your experiences, your pain and what needs to be done”.
The country’s largest public service trade union, IMPACT, narrowly failed to secure sufficient support to partake in the national day of strike action. However, a spokesperson has told RTE that this “did not necessarily mean that IMPACT members would not take part in Monday’s strike. “
