Primary school teachers are calling for a new statutory leave scheme for reproductive health-related issues.
The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) said workers should not have to use up their general sick leave allowance when faced with a pregnancy-related health issue.
Teachers speaking at the INTO Annual Congress in Galway today shared personal stories of miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and fertility treatment - none of which are covered under the current scheme.
Teacher Josephine Byrne, who has suffered two miscarriages, said the stress over accessing leave was extremely difficult.
“I went in on the Monday and I cried the whole way to school,” she said.
“I was in school and I wasn’t capable of teaching let alone talking to my colleagues; it was horrendous.
“First of all we need to ensure you are not concerned about using sick leave when you have something like a miscarriage.
“We need a separate reproductive health leave.”
"Teachers have the right to recover privately from a reproductive health related issue or loss" -Carmel Browne CEC #INTOCongress19
— INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) (@INTOnews) April 23, 2019
The union is calling for a comprehensive review of the current sick leave schemes to ensure pregnancy related issues.
It said fertility treatment should also be covered.
The union said a recent survey it carried out among 2,200 teachers across the country highlighted the “deep impact of the issue.”
Ms Byrne said her school was very supportive of her – but warned that the lack of a specific scheme to support those dealing with pregnancy complications leaves vulnerable women facing unnecessary stress.
“Ten days after first realising I had had the miscarriage, I was in the hospital and I had had a D&C (dilation and curettage) and my principal just happened to ring,” she said.
“Now, my principal was fantastic; he was so supportive.
“He happened to ring just to see how I was and he wasn’t putting me under stress but I was sitting on the bed and I started to cry because I felt that he was putting me under pressure to see when I was coming back to work.”
Motion calling for leave for reproductive health related issues has been passed unanimously at Congress. #INTOCongress19
— INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) (@INTOnews) April 23, 2019
Today’s gathering also heard that the extra workload from school initiatives is impacting on teacher’s mental health.
It heard that teachers are being constantly bombarded with initiatives around well-being, child protection as well as curriculum changes.
Members are demanding a reduction in initiatives that increase their workload.
With Reporting from Kacey O’Riordan at the INTO Annual Congress.
