Def Danny Burke!
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The leadership of the Irish National Teacher’s Organisation (INTO) has a tradition of inviting representatives of the employers to the opening of ‘their Northern conference. This year they invited Nicholas Scott, Minister for Education, to address the conference at Belfast’s Forum Hotel. They got kicked in the teeth for their pains.
Scott announced that the cuts in education would continue, and there would be no improvements in staffing or resources. He went on to detail his concern about ‘weak’ teachers. The message was clear. A witch-hunt against teachers is on the way. They are to be the ‘whipping posts’ who take the blame for the Tory attacks on education.
As Nicholas Scott is also responsible for many other areas of public service, in the, North, it is not hard to see that this witch-hunt could easily be extended against all public service workers. But INTO delegates did not get long to ponder Scott’s threats. The following day Danny Burke, a’ West Belfast teacher, presented the conference with evidence that the witchhunt is already under way and that he was to be the first target. Danny has been teaching for 16 years, but in recent years has faced increasing harassment from the Department of Education's inspectors. Now he is to be sacked and on Apvil 20th his licence to teach will be withdrawn.
Danny Burke’s decision to fight back has exposed a major principle for trade unionists. Despite his experience, the support of his union, and the support of local parents, it has become evident that there is no appeal against the Department. It can unilaterally take action against any teacher without any possibility of defence.
But Danny Burke is not a victim chosen at random. He is a leading anti-imperialist militant in West Belfast who has been to the forefront in many community and political struggles — HBlock, the Divis démolition ‘campaign, community education and many other issues, In any witch-hunt campaign, socialists like Danny would be’ the main target. Their removal would leave «# cowed and demoralised workforce under the thumb of the State.
A fightback is underway. The INTO conference voted unanimously to empower the Northern Committee to order the withdrawal of cooperation from the Department’s inspectors if a fair appeals system is not agreed. Local parents have expressed interest in organising a defence campaign. But militants in other unions should organise and send protests to Scott. The best way to defeat this campaign is to counterattack before it gets off the ground!