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UTU PRESIDENT
2010-2011

LEWIS LOVE

Presidential Comment

ANOTHER YEAR OF TURMOIL FOR SCHOOLS

The Autumn Term will have commenced by the time you receive the UTU News and it is with a degree of apprehension and uncertainty that I make my first Presidential Comment. The next few months will give some indication of how the huge economic crisis, created by the banks, will affect the Public Sector and in particular the teaching profession. We have been warned that the Comprehensive Spending Review, due in October, will have far reaching ramifications and education may not be exempt from austere fiscal cuts. October 2010 will also see the preliminary recommendations of the Hutton Report into Public Sector Pensions with the final report due in the New Year. We do not have to look too far to see what happened to our teaching colleagues’ pensions in the South of Ireland.

How much longer can the education system exist in a state of flux? The past year saw the new Education Skills Authority (to be in place by January 2010) still not operational. The money saved by the creation of ESA could have been better spent maintaining the existing sub- standard buildings that house our children and teachers As we move towards a new concept ‘Convergence’ many of those involved in education have no understanding of what this entails. Our politicians need to stop prevaricating and begin to make the concept of a Shared Future a reality.

However as we enter this period of uncertainty and I get to grips with my Presidential duties and responsibilities I am reassured of the high esteem in which the Ulster Teachers’ Union is held by the various bodies we negotiate with, and in particular our General Secretary. We are a local Union dealing with issues that affect local teachers and the fact that our General Secretary holds the position of Chair of the Northern Ireland Teachers Council as well as Chair of the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions corroborates this. Congratulations to Avril.

Before taking up post as Principal of Omagh High School I held the position of Senior Field Officer in the Union so I have first- hand knowledge of the volume and type of work that the office staff and officials have to deal with. The teaching profession is facing huge changes and invariably problems associated with such change will be encountered. I am confident that staff in Headquarters have the expertise and experience in meeting and shaping change in the interests of our members.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a special word of thanks to our school representatives. All Unions require new members and, at times, some members encounter experiences in school that require sound advice and assistance. Our school representatives carry out excellent work and in order to maintain this high quality expertise the Union not only recognises this fact, but also will continue to provide the necessary training and support to school representatives so that members’ interests are well served.

On a more positive note I am looking forward to working with John McNulty, Chair- Irish National Teachers Organisation. Both Unions are committed to addressing a range of issues and we intend to lobby our local politicians on these. The issue of class size is one that both Unions are concerned about, as is the N Ireland Teachers Council, and intend to raise the profile of class size as a matter of urgency.

I know from experience that it takes a few weeks for teachers to learn to relax during their summer holidays – they are not as long as people think. When you return in August for your ‘Baker Days’, and the staff development involved, it is a very short breathing space before the children are there, demanding your undivided attention for the next academic year and the cycle begins again.

I wish you well for the year ahead and remind you that the UTU will be there to support you during uncertain times.