IMPACT’s School Completion Programme (SCP) branch has commenced a ballot for industrial action. The branch is seeking a mandate for industrial action in order to secure agreement on the treatment staff in any reorganisation of the programme.
The School Completion Programme was established in 2002 and provides strategic support to vulnerable children, enabling them to complete their second level education. The programme was devised by the then Department of Education and Science in 2002 and moved to the newly formed Department of Children and Youth Affairs in 2011. It was subsumed into Tusla in 2014.
The programme is made up of 124 local projects, which work in 470 primary schools and 224 secondary schools nationwide.
The branch is also seeking progress on commitments on the regularisation of terms and conditions for programme staff. The commitment was set out in a Labour Relations Commission note in May 2015.
In a letter to branch members assistant general secretary Stella Griffin explained the background to the ballot. “Two years ago it was agreed that IMPACT and the DCYA (Department of Children and Youth Affairs) would meet to consider issues, including the regularisation of terms and conditions, in respect of the employment status of those working in the SCP.
“When the union sought to initiate the process we were advised that it was necessary for TUSLA to complete an audit of the projects and staff concerned prior to meaningful engagement.
“Following completion of this exercise it emerged that TUSLA was considering the future role and structure of the SCP and it was argued that clarity was required on this before the agreed process could commence.
Stella advised that, despite repeated requests by the union, the department has again indicated that some further work is required before agreeing to meet the union.
Stella said the Education division’s executive has kept the matter under constant review. She said, “Members should be consulted in relation to a mandate for industrial action so that the union is best placed to achieve negotiations and a successful outcome.”
Value
A report by the Economic and Social Research Institute in 2015 highlighted the value of the programme, and stated that SCP has added a whole new dimension to the way schools operate. The ESRI study found that expenditure cuts have curtailed SCP provision at a time of growing need at school level, which was identified as a significant weakness.
Speaking at the union’s Education division conference in April, Michael Smyth said the SCP has been severely hit by cutbacks since 2009. "This has affected the programme's ability to deliver the full range of service to young people in need.
"Cutbacks have affected summer programmes, out of school clubs, in-school interventions and many other necessary interventions. A separate counselling budget has been cut altogether from next September by Tusla. The national budget for SCP has been cut from €32m to €24m since its foundation.
"The ESRI identified that SCP was targeting and looking after a cohort of pupils who aren't prioritised or targeted by other parts of the school system, nor indeed within the community or in other agencies. The ESRI identified that the SCP was contributing to better school retention and participation," he said.
The ballot closes at 5.00 pm on Thursday 8th June.
