People Before Profit expresses solidarity with teachers striking today.
TEACHERS ARE RIGHT TO STRIKE
In the past, the Independent Newspapers have sought to vilify teachers for taking strike action. But such action is often necessary to safeguard the quality of education and to defend the pay and conditions of teachers.
It was only by threatening action that the original proposal for scrapping state certification of the Junior cert was withdrawn. The government was forced to move – but it is still not enough.
• Marking 40% of the Junior Cert will change the relationship between pupils, parents and teachers.
• The ‘reform’ is also not properly resourced.
Teachers have already given too much with Croke Park and Haddington Road. For six years, workers have been battered by wage cuts and calls to do ‘more for less’. But the only result of all this sacrifice, has been to transfer more of the resources of our society to a privileged elite.
The massive campaign of opposition to water charges shows that there is now a risen people who will take no more. It is time that this spirit was brought into the heart of our unions and that we start standing up for our rights.
People Before Profit is a new political force that wants to challenge the political establishment. We want to see a return to strong unions; an end to austerity; re-distribution of wealth and an equality agenda that ends all forms of discrimination.
People Before Profit