School closures to go ahead after last-ditch talks end without deal

Last-ditch talks between the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Department of Education have ended, with Thursday’s school closures now definitely going ahead.

It is likely that at least 525 schools will close as part of the union’s industrial action over pay for new entrant teachers.

And there is much greater concern over the fact that many secondary schools may not open indefinitely following the midterm break on Monday, November 7th. This is linked to the union’s planned withdrawal of supervision and substitution duties.

Tensions are also rising in many dual-union schools over the fact that ASTI members will lose pay for any industrial action leading to school closures.

By contrast, non-union teachers or members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland will get paid, even if schools do not open.

School managers have been collecting declarations from non-ASTI teachers stating they are available for work on Thursday.

Management bodies now estimate at least 525 secondary schools – or two out of three – will close on Thursday.

Almost all voluntary secondary schools – typically owned or run by religious organisations – are set to close on Thursday. These schools are staffed mostly by ASTI members.

In addition, many community and comprehensive schools who have members of both unions, are likely to close.

Those least likely to shut are run by Education and Training Boards which are typically staffed by TUI members. Up to 45 of its 200-plus schools are due to close on Thursday.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Minister for Education Richard Bruton said it would be very difficult for some schools to remain open if the ASTI industrial action goes ahead.

He said it was normal industrial relations procedure in the case of withdrawal of labour that they would not be paid.

"We have cash on the table for new teachers, we have promotional opportunities," he earlier told Newstalk Breakfast. "There is a substantial deal on offer, we will continue the process as resources become available. Pay restoration will happen in the course of negotiations."

He said he agreed with a claim by the Impact union that it would not be fair to do a sectoral deal that would leave others behind.

“It wouldn’t be fair to do a special deal with one union or to look at the issue in isolation.”

There is rising concern that hundreds of schools may not have enough staff to keep schools open on health and safety grounds on Monday, November 7th, following the mid-term break.

This is due to the ASTI’s plan to withdraw supervision and substitution duties following the midterm break, which would leave schools without teachers to supervise breaks or fill in for absent staff.

The union’s actions are a response to the Government’s use of financial emergency legislation for its “repudiation” of a public sector pay deal it previously signed up to.

School managers say the union’s decision not to exempt principals and deputy principals in its directive to cease supervision duties means it will be close to impossible for many schools to operate contingency plans.

This effect of this is that responsibility for recruiting supervisors falls to boards of management who serve on a voluntary basis.

The Department of Education commenced preparations for strike action on Thursday by sending circulars to school outlining rules over the payment of teaching staff.