Update: Grafton College teachers do not accept owner 'doesn't have a penny' for wages

A group of teachers who had been occupying an English school in Dublin since last night have been locked out of the building.

Update: Grafton College teachers do not accept owner 'doesn't have a penny' for wages

Update: 12pmTeachers at Grafton College in Dublin say they do not accept that the owner "doesn't have a penny" to pay them.

They occupied the Portobello school last night after it went into liquidation, leaving staff without a job and owed a month's wage.

The demonstration ended at around 1am after they were asked to leave by representatives of the owner Saeed Rehman, and a request from the gardaí.

Trade union Unite, which represents a majority of the teachers, is organising a lunchtime rally between 12.30pm and 2pm today outside the college.

Legislation which will better protect the rights of English language teachers is due before the Dáil tomorrow.

One of the teachers affected, Daragh McCarthy, says only students are protected when these situations arise.

He said: "What has been put in place for students, they have reasonably good protection when these schools go to the wall.

"The students are left without a school, they then are taken care of and they are put into other language schools, but there is literally nothing in place to help teachers or put in any protection for them in the industry."

Earlier: Grafton College teachers 'resolute' over unpaid wages after being locked out of building

A group of teachers who had been occupying an English school in Dublin since last night have been locked out of the building.

The Portobello school went into liquidation yesterday leaving staff without a job and owed one month's pay.

They are demanding that the owner of Grafton College in Portobello meet with them and settle the unpaid wages.

They also want a meeting with Education Minister Joe McHugh to discuss precarious employment in the sector.

Daragh McCarthy, who is one of the teachers, said: "We feel we are speaking for all EFL teachers in the country who I think will empathise with our situation. Many of them, this is the third time this has happened to me, this is the third time this has happened to another colleague of mine, we are speaking for the EFL teachers and for the industry as a whole.

"We feel we have to do this because it's just being taken up in any serious way and we're resolute about this."

- Digital Desk

more courts articles

Laurence Fox ordered to pay €210,000 in libel damages Laurence Fox ordered to pay €210,000 in libel damages
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court to face sex charges Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court to face sex charges
Case against Jeffrey Donaldson to be heard in court Case against Jeffrey Donaldson to be heard in court

More in this section

Drew Harris: drivers who ‘excessively’ break speed limits should face suspension Drew Harris: drivers who ‘excessively’ break speed limits should face suspension
2024 Cross Border Police Conference on Organised & Serious Crime Sexual predators ‘everywhere online’, gardai warn
Stardust nightclub fire inquest Stardust: Gardaí begin compiling old case files after unlawful killing verdict
War_map
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited