Special Schools
IMPACT in consultation with our colleagues in other trade unions working in the education sector, will exempt Special Schools from any strike action on Monday 30th March. This decision is based on the needs of pupils and the circumstances arising in this dispute. IMPACT members employed in Special Schools will be working as normal on that day.
We will post a letter on the IMPACT website which explains the exemption granted to Special schools which may be produced at any picket line encountered while going to work.
Mainstream Schools
Many schools will be shut due to members of the teachers unions being on strike. Impact members should inform principals that they will be available for work on Monday, and this should result in them being paid for the day.
If schools are open and SNAs are at work, they must not carry out any duties normally done by their striking teacher colleagues. They should work only under the direction and supervision of teaching staff, and should only do work appropriate to the SNA grade. This means work related to the fact that there are children with assessed educational needs in the school and excludes general admin, photocopying, laminating etc.
IMPACT cannot instruct its members to take industrial action or refuse to cross picket lines on 30th March. Equally, the CEC recognises that many IMPACT members will be unwilling to cross picket lines on 30th March, in solidarity with other trade unions. Therefore, while the union is unable to sanction industrial action, it is committed to protect those members who refuse to cross picket lines from any threatened management sanctions. This determination will be communicated to employers in advance of 30th March.
Philip Mullen
Asst Gen Sec
IMPACT
