Flexible Working in Education

Conference is concerned at the growing number of education employers who resist and actively discourage requests for flexible working.

Conference notes with concern the evidence which shows that many workers are denied access to flexible working based on spurious arguments, feeble excuses, blatant discrimination and on other grounds that are contrary to the provisions of the legislation, regulations and statutory codes of practice governing flexible working.

Conference is deeply concerned that discriminatory employer attitudes, coupled with increased freedom and flexibility for employers, are resulting in many more women having their family lives blighted, or being driven out of the teaching profession, or being threatened with dismissal or redundancy as an alternative to flexible working.

Conference calls on the ICTU to:

• Research and expose the extent to which women in Northern Ireland are being denied access to flexible working;
• Work with affiliates to continue the campaign for a legal right to flexible working.