IMPACT has made a call for more effective monitoring of the JobBridge internship scheme in schools, as more evidence emerges that the scheme is being used to make up shortfalls in staffing. The union has said that, on the strength of the available evidence, it’s probable that the scheme is being abused.
In a letter sent today (Friday) to members of IMPACT’s Special Needs Assistants branches, assistant general secretary Dessie Robinson explains “The reason the union has called for more effective monitoring is because IMPACT has had to make interventions about the advertising of classroom assistant, school cleaner and caretaker posts in recent months.
“Following those interventions, the Department has removed such posts from the scheme. However, it remains a matter of very serious concern that schools are advertising a very significant number of SNA and school secretary positions” he said.
Dessie said that it’s probable that SNAs on the redeployment panel are being displaced as schools look to make up a shortfall in their SNA allocation this year by using JobBridge. “This was never the intended use of the scheme and it is unacceptable that it could be used to facilitate a situation where SNAs on the panel remain unemployed. This constitutes job displacement and cannot be tolerated.
“IMPACT fought hard to establish the redeployment panel, and it constitutes the first real move toward improved job security for SNAs. We cannot tolerate any set of circumstances which cause that improved job security to be undermined” he said.
Last week, deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan appeared on RTE news bulletins making the call for effective monitoring of the scheme, which he said should include trade union input. He was also interviewed on RTE News at One and Today FM's The Last Word (from 21:04).
Kevin said that all measures to get people back into work are important. “IMPACT’s policy in relation to JobBridge is that the scheme has value as a work experience opportunity for people who are out of work. However, it must be properly supervised and mentored, it must provide adequate supports and training and it must not be used to displace existing jobs.
“In light of what has emerged about how schools are using the JobBridge scheme, we need to carefully consider the union's current position. We have pressed home the importance of effective monitoring to the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Education and Skills. We have outlined the need for monitoring to include trade union input. If these departments are unwilling to accommodate this approach, it will become necessary for the union to reconsider its position in relation to JobBridge” he said.
IMPACT will continue to engage with both the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Social Protection to ensure that the scheme is not being abused. Dessie Robinson has asked SNA members to remain vigilant and to report any suspected abuse of the scheme to their local IMPACT representative.
