Unite the Union...

A Ten PointCharter for EnglishLanguage Teachers

the fighting back unionUnite’s primary role is to provide advice and assistance toour members in the workplace and to represent staff bothindividually and collectively.

However membership of Unite does provide additionalbenefits and services, such as:

Unite Motor, Home and Travel InsuranceCompetitive quotes for Unite members on 1890 700 744/www.unite.jltonline.ie

Unite Income ProtectionLow cost cover for income protection if you are out of workdue to illness or accident on 1890 700 744 / www.unite.jltonline.ie

Legal HelplineFree initial advice on any non-work related matter bytelephoning our helpline. 1800 303 603

Unite Debt HelplineDebt advice for members seven days a week on 01 506 0774

Unite the Union Benefits and Services

What have Trade Unions ever done for us?

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More details can be found onwww.unitetheunion.org/ireland

Savings at Vision ExpressReduced rates on glasses and eye tests from Vision Express,vouchers available for download from www.unitetheunion.org

Free Consultation with a SolicitorUnite members can get a free 30 minute consultation witha solicitor on any matter. Contact 01 873 4577.

Free Will ServiceUnite members can have their will drawn up free of chargeby our solicitors. Contact 01 873 4577.

House Purchase, Mortgages and Reduced Legal FeesProvided by Unite’s team of solicitors. Contact 01 873 4577

• Minimum Wage• Two day weekend• Equal Pay• Equal opportunity• Collective bargaining• Paid annual leave

• Maternity & paternity leave

• Occupational health & safety

• Education and training

• Protection from workplacebullying and harassment

For €4 a week the question is not can you afford unionmembership, it’s can you afford not to be a member.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P4BX-5fPDA

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Unite Charter for English Language Teachers

How to Join UniteUnite the Union –55/56 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1

To join online please go towww.unitetheunion.org/join

Contact: Roy HasseyMobile: 087-6950671 • Office Tel: 01-8734577 E-mail: roy.hassey@unitetheunion.org

1. Permanent employment contracts for ELT’s as standard The blanket use of Fixed Term Contracts for teachers is an abuse of the Protection of

Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act 2003. Teachers should be given permanent employmentcontracts unless there is a specific, legitimate reason why this is not appropriate.

2. Legal, written statement of terms and conditions as standard Under the Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994–2014, anyone who works for

an employer for a regular wage or salary automatically has a contract of employment.An employee must be given a written statement of terms of employment within 2months of starting work. Failure to do so contravenes the legislation.

3. An end to the use of zero-hour contracts and bogus self-employment A zero-hours contract of employment is a type of employment contract where the employee

is available for work but does not have specified hours of work. Bogus self-employment arrangements; where the worker is forced to be a sole trader

or operate through a company in order to be hired; sees a significant reduction inentitlements - including the rights to holiday pay, sick pay, maternity pay, unemploymentbenefit, and employer pension contributions. They may also lose their rights to employmentprotection legislation on issues including unfair dismissal.

4. Recognition and pay for non-contact hours A teacher’s role goes beyond classroom contact hours. All hours worked in planning

lessons, marking, prep work and admin should be fully paid and contractual.

5. Entitlement to holiday and sick pay Although there is no legal obligation on an employer to pay sick pay to staff, it is a

hallmark of an ethical employer who values their staff, to do so. The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 provides for a basic annual paid leave

entitlement of 4 weeks. You are also entitled to 9 paid public holidays a year.

6. Full entitlement to all leave as guaranteed under employment legislation Teachers should be fully entitled to maternity, paternity, parental, adoptive, force

majeure and carer’s leave. For more information on leave entitlements, please contactUnite the Union.

7. Equality of pay and opportunity for non-native speakers The Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015 outlaw discrimination in a wide range of

employment and employment-related areas. These include recruitment and promotion,equal pay, working conditions, training or experience, dismissal and harassment.

8. Full support from schools for continued professional development It is in the interest of teachers, schools and students that professional development

continues on an ongoing basis. Schools cannot place all responsibility and cost ofthis on to teachers.

9. Union recognition and representation rights across all schools You have a constitutional right to be a member of a trade union and under the

Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 you cannot be dismissed or discriminatedagainst for joining a union. Good, ethical employers recognise unions.

10. Standardised salary scales across the sector through the application of a Sectoral Employment Order The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015 provides for a system of sectoral

employment orders. Under the 2015 Act, an SEO may set out minimum payrates as well as pension and sick pay schemes for an economic sector.

An application for a SEO can only be achieved through a trade union and that unionmust be genuinely representative of the sector in which it is applying. For a SEO tobe applied for ELT’s, teachers must join a trade union.

@unite_union_IRE unitetheunionROI

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