Furious teachers occupy closed language school

ANGRY teachers last night staged a sit-in at a language school that has gone into liquidation.

Around 25 teachers entered Grafton College in Portobello, Dublin, after it suddenly shut, leaving them without pay they were due. William O’Brien said they are occupying the building to get paid the wages they are owed and to draw attention to the issue of precarious work practices in the industry.

He said: ‘We are determined to stay until we are heard.

‘I am fortunate as I have support but there are a lot of teachers that don’t have that and who have children.

‘We have had no answers from our employer so we decided to occupy the building to get the attention from our employer and the Minister of Education.’

The lights were on in the school last night, which would usually be closed at that time, as the teachers made provisions to stay in the building overnight.

Teacher Rory Sweeney vowed: ‘We are not going to quit – it is an injustice and our lives have been destroyed.

‘The stress is horrible and the mood among the teachers is one of anxiousness.’

Many of the students lost thousands of euro in tuition fees and the teachers are out of a job following the closure of Grafton College.

Some staff had raised concerns on Friday as their November wages had not been paid into their accounts.

On Saturday, it became clear the school was closing and salaries had been cancelled. School directors told staff the school was going into liquidation.

Yesterday students turned up at the school in support of the teachers – many of whom have young children and mortgages.

Robert and Gisela Dunlop, who got married on Saturday and are expecting their first child on December 27, said they were devastated.

Teacher Mr Dunlop said: ‘We are having a new baby in a few weeks. I’ve lost my job and she doesn’t work. It is really cruel. I am in total limbo. It is very unfair to all of us.’

Student Aline Rabelo, 27, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, said: ‘I am here eight months. The teachers are amazing. I will do everything I can to support the teachers. They don’t have money now.

‘This is so unfair. We were told nothing.’

Grafton College’s owners were contacted for comment.

Staff owed a month’s salary