The review of the National SNA contract is ongoing. The Department of Education has now completed a series of regional workshops where senior Officials have met SNAs and discussed training and development needs, members have also raised common problems with the operation of the terms and conditions which will feed into further discussions on the review.
Clarifications have now been agreed on a number of issues relating to SNA terms and conditions of employment, which have been set out in a letter from the Department of Education to the school management bodies who will distribute it to schools. The issues addressed include the following:
Job Sharing working hours were previously 16 hours per week. This has now changed so that a job share arrangement can only consist of 50% of full-time hours with salary now based not on a 32 hour week but on 50% of the full time salary regardless of the length of the working week.
SNA working hours have been clarified as being normal classroom hours with a short period of time before and after class for receiving students, dispersal and making sure the classroom is in order. The Department’s letter makes very clear to schools that the normal working week is not 32 hours, there is no standard working week as school hours vary considerably. The 32-hour week is only to be used as a pay divisor for substitute staff.
- Use of the 72 Hour Obligation
Fórsa’s claim for the abolition of the 72 hours is still under discussion as part of the review of the national contract. In the interim, the Department has clarified that the 72 hours should only be used where there is appropriate work related to the role of the SNA that needs to be carried out. That the use of the hours is task dependent meaning that if a block of hours are allocated for a certain task the hours are finished whenever the work finishes, that the duties must fall within the agreed Circular and that working on book clubs, homework and breakfast clubs, extra-curricular / additional activities etc. are not in line with the provisions of the Circular, and a such are not appropriate. Further updates will issue on the 72 hours once the contract review has progressed further.
The letter confirms that the contract for Special Needs Assistants in the post-primary sector specifically requires that SNAs are required to work the month of June on examinations and work appropriate to the grade. It further clarifies that attendance should primarily be determined by the work to be undertaken. In this regard, schools should take note that only appropriate work should be assigned, as provided for under point 9 of Circular 0071/2011.
Regarding training during June, the letter advises that “where appropriate training is arranged, SNAs should be allowed to undertake same at home if they can do so and schools can consider the appropriateness of this when planning relevant training.
It also states that similarly, where appropriate work under Circular 0071/2011 can be undertaken at home in June (once it is GDPR and governance compliant), schools should consider facilitating same.
You can read a copy of the letter here.
There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.
Like
