Teacher's PET

An insider's guide to education: For many ordinary ASTI members, last week's rebuke from the Labour Court was the final straw for a union that has been on a downward spiral for four years.

There is now loose talk of a grassroots revolution, but, on past evidence, don't hold your breath. Thousands of teachers in staffrooms around the State may be appalled, but few bother to attend branch meetings.

Internally, two people are leading the demand for change. Former president PJ Sheehy cut up rough at last week's executive meeting. Relations between him and current president, Pat Cahill are said to be "tense".

One media-shy executive member, Kieron Christie, has also been prepared to speak out. He is asking a series of probing questions about the Labour Court case.

The hope among all sides is that the healing process will begin once a settlement is made in the Charlie Lennon case. Lennon has won an High Court injunction preventing Cahill and vice-president Susie Hall investigating alleged bogus expense claims.

There is talk of a €200,000 payout to Charlie, but ASTI treasurer Patricia Wroe is still digging in.

Last week, Lennon and Cahill enjoyed a mid-week break together at an education conference in Florence. Both men are anxious to do a deal. But the formidable and independent-minded Wroe has still to be convinced. The High Court case now seems set to rumble on until January, at least.

The seven university presidents met yesterday to survey the wreckage left by the cutbacks in the Government's spending Estimates.

Colleges now find themselves struggling to cope. We are looking at a grim winter with courses being cancelled and laboratories shut down.

Out at UCD, in a symbol of the current shambles, angry students are protesting about the savage cuts in the library opening hours.

It may be that Noel Dempsey needs to give the third-level sector more attention. There is real, palpable anger across the sector that the Department is not engaging in a real way with the colleges. The assistant secretary in charge of third-level, Paul Kelly, is much respected. But the universities say much clearer political direction is required.

Congrats to UCD's Literary and Historical Society for its coup in securing Sir Alex Ferguson last week. It is a sign that the L&H retains all its old vigour.

• Got any education gossip You can email us, in confidence, at teacherspet@irish-times.ie