Union issues reminder on ‘72 hours’
by Mehak Dugal
 
Fórsa’s head of education said the union had heard numerous examples of SNAs being asked to undertake inappropriate duties and being expected to attend premises for a set duration of time without appropriate tasks being identified.
Fórsa’s head of education said the union had heard numerous examples of SNAs being asked to undertake inappropriate duties and being expected to attend premises for a set duration of time without appropriate tasks being identified.

Fórsa is reminding special needs assistants (SNAs) of its earlier advice to members regarding the ‘72-hours obligation. The union had sent advice to members previously that if an SNA is asked to perform tasks it must be under the provision it would be done on the basis of explicit adherence to the circular.

 

The instruction was issued earlier this year on foot of Covid and general conditions in classrooms at the time.

 

Fórsa lifted the instruction in April, but only on the provision that if an SNA were asked to perform tasks under the provision it would be done on the basis of explicit adherence to the circular. The union has asked individual schools to ensure they adhere to the nationally agreed circular and in turn the provisions of the various national agreements in the intervening period.

 

In recent months, the union has also raised concerns about significant breaches of the 72-hours circular with the education department.

 

Fórsa’s head of education said the union had heard numerous examples of SNAs being asked to undertake inappropriate duties and being expected to attend premises for a set duration of time without appropriate tasks being identified.

 

“We’ve also seen examples of hours not being recorded or allocated in line with the provisions of the circular, or hours consistently scheduled in a manner that extends the working day or week. So, as we head into another school year, the union is reminding SNAs about the union’s position on the 72 hours,” he said.

 

The additional hours were introduced under the 2011 Croke Park agreement, and Andy said it was one of the last vestiges of the period’s austerity measures. “The evidence available shows that many schools are not using the hours for the purposes specified in the 2011 circular to support students with additional care needs,” he said.

 

Read the union’s directive on 72 hours here.

 

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