Trade Union Solidarity

by L Deeds Mon Sep 24, 2007 17:25

There are over 7,000 classroom assistants in N I, and you could add about 4,000 further, who work as volunteers, or in job-placements. These workers are over 99% females. The few males in this role, are about 3 times as likely to be on temporary contracts. These are facts. About a quarter, or more, of the females, do not possess a high school pass. Another quarter will likely lack either a pass in maths, or English. These are conservative estimates. If you enter a high school staff room at lunch time, you will find the teachers in one area, and the CAs in another area------British class system. If you are the only CA in that room, no one will talk to you (as one CA confided to me). The ladies operate from an obvious position of weakness. That is why they are there. They are bullied by a group of hypocrites, with a policy on bullying. I can not help but think, that past labour leaders such as James Connolly, Countess and Eva Markiewicz, or Arthur Griffith, would be very upset with this mob. The ladies are very assistive, and appreciated, in the classroom, but it is not especially under a banner of Education, Education, Education. It is more like Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, or Full-employment, Full-employment, Full-employment.

The most amazing thing that I find in this scenario, is the amount of money spent on suppressing these ladies, in ignoring their plight, in concealing their plight. At the same time, another fortune is spent on a publicity campaign of the topic of equality. Their employers have statutory equality schemes, and statutory duties to be mindful of gender, race, religion, etc. Obviously, the Equality Commission, have been sleeping on the equality issue. Not to suggest, however, that they do not hold their equality meetings and conferences. Not to suggest that they do not have committees which talk about tackling these matters. Not to suggest that they are lacking a law or a code on equality. They are not lacking for conferences or committees or laws or glossy brochures. These ladies need a few males to enter their ranks-----across the spectrum of education, but especially in the secondary schools. The ladies need more muscle. Support your local CAs, because no one else will.

by kbranno Tue Sep 25, 2007 13:56 kevinbrannigan at hotmail dot com

When was Arthur Griffith ever a labor leader? Griffith sided with the employers during 1913!

by L Deeds Wed Sep 26, 2007 17:23

Then we will replace him with Jim Larkin. Furthermore, Eva was not a Markiewicz. You missed that one. However, when all is said, best wishes to the ladies, in their fight for fair wages and conditions.