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High school teachers who are members of the ASTI union have voted in favor of the strike, including the strike, unless the Government immediately addresses a number of key Covid-related issues in schools.
In a vote that posed a series of questions, ASTI teachers voted in favor of the action that seeks a redefinition of what constitutes close contact in the classroom; 24 hour Covid test response times, serial tests for schools; the provision of free laptops for students and teachers; provision to allow teachers in the high-risk health category to teach from home or make accommodations at school, and equal pay for teachers employed after 2010.
Members rejected proposals for potential industrial action for a number of other reasons, including seeking a physical distance of two meters in each classroom, providing free high-quality masks to all students and teachers, and guaranteed offers of contracts. full-time permanent staff for any teacher returning to the system.
In a separate vote, which was a repeat of a vote that was in progress when schools suddenly closed in March, ASTI members voted in favor of the strike, including the strike for equal pay.
The vote stipulated that such action should be taken in conjunction with at least one other teachers union.
– ASTI (@astiunion) October 28, 2020
Commenting on the result, ASTI President Ann Piggott said members were clearly saying that they want schools to remain open to students.
“They are demanding that the Government step up and provide a 24-hour test response time, a redefinition of close contacts for school settings, a comprehensive testing program, and appropriate arrangements for teachers classified as ‘high risk'” .
ASTI members also voted not to accept unilateral decisions by some schools to implement changes in working conditions without consulting with the teaching staff.
“Teachers are unwavering in their commitment to providing a quality education and supporting their students in this stressful and uncertain time,” said Ms. Piggott.
“However, ASTI will not tolerate exploitative attempts to introduce unnecessary, non-consensual job changes that have an additional negative impact on teachers’ work and workload.”
Commenting on the separate vote on equal pay, he said that ASTI members remained fully committed to achieving equal pay for teachers entering the profession beginning in 2010.
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