TEACHERS unions are demanding an urgent meeting with the Government over the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines.
The ASTI, INTO and TUI have written joint letter to the Department of Education on the matter.
The Government recently changed the vaccination programme to an age-based system – which has caused anger among frontline workers, including teachers.
Previously, they had been prioritised in the schedule
Earlier this week, the ASTI, INTO and TUI unions condemned the decision of government to abandon vaccine prioritisation for teachers.
Each union passed an emergency motion at their respective Easter conferences, pledging to work together to challenge this regressive and ill-thought through approach to protecting our essential frontline education workforce.
Ina letter, they say they are ‘anxious’ to engage with officials ‘to secure clarity on timeframes and schedules for the vaccination of our respective members and discuss several anomalies in the vaccine roll out which have impacted on educational settings.’
The letter asks for early vaccination of ‘pregnant teachers, those in higher risk categories and those who work in special schools, special classes and home school community liaison teachers’.
The unions warn that if the schedule is not agreed upon by the end of the school year that members will be balloted for industrial action ‘up to and including strike action’.