Ms Colette Godkin:

I thank the Chairman and members of the joint committee for giving me the opportunity to address them. I am the secretary of the English language teachers branch of Unite. I also work as an English language teacher and a teacher trainer in Dublin.

Unite's submission on the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill raised a number of concerns about labour issues. English language teaching is generally precarious employment, with teachers being paid by the hour and for hours which vary from week to week. Within the sector there are vast disparities in pay levels. Most importantly, teachers are only paid for their time in the classroom, which means that time spent in preparing classes, dealing with paperwork and correcting students' work is unpaid. As a result, teachers sometimes earn less than the living wage. That said, teaching English can be an immensely rewarding profession where we have the opportunity to make a real difference to our students' work and study opportunities. Many of our students go on to study in the higher education sector in Ireland.

Many teachers would like English language teaching to be their lifelong career. Unfortunately, the English language teaching industry in Ireland has been characterised by employment abuses such as the overuse of fixed-term and low-hour contracts and, in some schools, a lack of contracts; no entitlement to sick pay; discrimination against teachers who are not native speakers of English; and the targeting and harassing of union members. Some union members have seen their hours cut and, in some cases, have been fired for having union membership. While, as we know, this is completely illegal, these teachers, as precarious workers, may fail to stand up for their rights when it can cost them their livelihood. That is why we welcome the quality assurance standards in the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill and the amendments regarding the international education mark that will ensure any school that wishes to operate in Ireland will be obliged to abide by Irish employment law. However, the IEM needs to be underpinned by further supporting legislation to address the culture of disregard of the rights of workers which, sadly, pervades what could be a world-class industry.

Unite has been happy to engage with the mediator, Mr. Patrick King, and in the mediation process. We look forward to sitting down with the employers, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive agreement on matters such as stable hours, secure contracts, sick pay, pay scales, union recognition and other issues, including sudden school closures which have left teachers out of work and with unpaid wages. We seek a sectoral employment order, but we are prepared to explore in good faith whatever statutory instrument is best for our members and all teachers.

Through the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) (Amendment) Bill and potentially other legislation, teachers are requesting a strengthening of their rights as workers in order that they can continue to do the work they love in a stable and ethical industry which respects and allows them to make a living to keep a roof over their heads and provide for their families.