School managers have said they are determined to keep schools open in September, even if ASTI members withdraw from voluntary supervision as part of their ongoing industrial action.
Last November almost 600 schools were forced to close on health and safety grounds when the ASTI withdrew from supervision duties.
But Mr George O'Callaghan, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body, which represents the majority of school managers, said this time managers hoped to put in place new supervision arrangements, preferably with teachers, but without them if necessary.
The response of managers will come as a blow to some ASTI members who hoped the withdrawal from supervision would put serious pressure on the Government again. Mr O'Callaghan said talks would begin shortly with the Department on the new supervision scheme. The Department had indicated that money would be available, but the details of any new supervision scheme were still to be worked out.
He said managers wanted teachers for supervision, because they were the most suitable, but non-teachers might have to be considered if this was the only way to keep schools open. The ASTI at its Galway conference said if its members rejected the revised Labour Court proposals, it would undertake "passive resistance" in several areas, including the introduction of new courses and supervision. Mr O'Callaghan said while break-time supervision was not a major problem, getting substitute cover was a serious difficulty. This is when teachers are absent at short notice and colleagues supervise their classes.
Mr O'Callaghan said teachers traditionally provided this service, but if the ASTI withdrew, it would be a serious matter. He said talks with the Department would focus on this point. Speaking at the annual conference of the Irish National Teacher's Organisation (INTO) in Killarney on Tuesday, the Minister for Education, Dr Woods, said if teachers were prepared to provide supervision into the future, a payment would be available. The size of the payment and who might qualify will be considered in talks set to start on May 8th. They will involve INTO and the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI), but the ASTI has already said it will not participate.
Yesterday the ASTI central executive council met and deferred all motions to another meeting on May 9th because the union's members are voting on the Labour Court proposals from Monday.
The union has also instructed the general secretary, Mr Charlie Lennon, to write to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, seeking a refund of its annual subscription for 2000. The ASTI paid the subscription before it left ICTU and now wants it returned. It is understood to be worth about £20,000.