Motion no: 6
The TNC 2023/2 Joint Declaration of Protection (for Dignity at Work & Inclusive Working Environment) contains the following commitments:
This Declaration is a joint Management Side and Teachers’ Side agreement which recognises the moral and legal duties placed on Employers and Trade Unions as a result of fair employment legislation, anti-discrimination law and the Section 75 Statutory Equality Duty. This agreement aims to provide a work environment that fosters the dignity of its employees, is inclusive and where individual differences are valued and respected. This Joint Declaration Statement applies to all employees including staff contracted to work in schools to assist in the day to day running of the school.
Declaration
1. The Employing Authorities, Board of Governors and Teachers’ Side declare that they condemn all acts of unlawful discrimination and harassment and that they are committed to ensuring that any acts of unlawful discrimination or harassment carried out will be vigorously opposed by both Management Side and the Teachers’ Side.
2. The Employing Authorities, Board of Governors and Teachers’ Side affirm that every employee has the right to work free from intimidation and harassment on the grounds of religious belief, political opinion, sex, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, being married or in a civil partnership, race, disability, sexual orientation or age.
Action
This declaration will be prominently displayed in the school and made available to all staff and will be made available on the Education Authority website.
Despite this Joint Declaration of Protection being reaffirmed and reissued in 2023, education workers continue to be subjected to abuse and harassment on equality grounds, ranging from persistent, ‘low level’ bullying behaviour to systematic campaigns of abuse.
The Joint Declaration is neither displayed nor observed in the majority of schools and education workers continue to experience unacceptable and, at times extreme, harassment, intimidation and discrimination both within and from outside the school setting.
Congress, therefore, calls upon NIC/ ICTU to support the education workers in a campaign to ensure that:
- The Declaration is displayed in schools as agreed, and measures are taken to raise awareness of workers and school communities regarding its implications
- Significant protections are introduced to the education sector, as exist in other sectors, promoting zero tolerance of abuse
- Robust accountability measures are established and implemented at all levels to respond appropriately to such behaviour wherever and whenever it occurs.
