The next phase of Association of Secondary School Teacher’s (ASTI) industrial action is set to begin tomorrow with no sign of breakthrough in the deadlock with the Government over the docking of members' pay before Christmas.
About 160 Dublin secondary schools will close tomorrow as 17,000 ASTI members begin a series of one-day strikes which will see pupils around the country lose nine days of school between now and Easter. (ASTI Programme of strike action)
The dispute is in deadlock over the Government's decision to dock teachers' pay for their work-to-rule action in November. The ASTI wants a full refund without preconditions.
ASTI spokeswoman, Ms Gemma Tuffy, told Ireland.com: "Members were illegally docked pay when they were on work-to-rule and will not re-enter talks until the money is returned."
She said member’s entered talks with the Government before Christmas in good faith only to discover that their pay was docked. She said this has shattered the membership's confidence that the Department of Education is serious about dealing with the matter.
But The Irish Times reported this morning that the Government has indicated it will not accept any compromise on the docking of pay. A spokesman is reported to have said there is no prospect of giving in into the ASTI demand for a refund.
In relation to ASTI’s 30 per cent pay claim, the Government is holding firm on its stance that any pay deal must be determined by the benchmarking pay review body established under the framework of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF).
Meanwhile the mediator in the dispute, Mr Tom Pomphrett, is expected to continue in his efforts to find a compromise ahead of the ASTI executive meeting next Friday. But negotiators are said to be pessimistic about reaching a solution in the short term.
The new phase of ASTI strikes are to take place on a rolling regional basis. Following tomorrow’s action in Dublin, all other Leinster schools will be affected on Wednesday, while union members in Munster schools will strike on Thursday.
The strike action is to continue in this manner until Easter - resulting in the loss of at least nine school days. ASTI is also planning a ban on State exams from early next month.