Teacher threat of action remains despite talks

The resumption of communication between the secondary teachers’ union, the ASTI, and the Department of Education is not a softening…

The resumption of communication between the secondary teachers’ union, the ASTI, and the Department of Education is not a softening of attitude over their dispute which led to schools closures during the last school year, the union warned today.

The ASTI has agreed to become involved in talks with the Department of Education over payment for supervision and substitution among other issues.

In a development yesterday, the ASTI attended a meeting with the Department and other teachers’ unions and school management representatives and agreed to keep open contacts with the Department.

"Our aim in attending that meeting was to receive information in relation to a number of issues and to bring that back to our membership," an ASTI spokeswoman told ireland.com.

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But the secondary teachers’ dispute that disrupted teaching throughout the last school year could re-surface again irrespective of whether the contentious issue is resolved before a meeting of the central executive of the ASTI, next month.

Thee 30 per cent pay claim is a separate issue according to the union. They say a meeting of the Central Executive Council will hold discussions in September on consulting members in relation to the claim. They added that no industrial action was planned and no other meetings for September were scheduled.

Previously, the ASTI had refused to discuss the matter until its 30 per cent pay claim had been settled and withdrew from supervision and substitution as part of its industrial action.

The Teachers Union of Ireland and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation have been discussing a pay package over supervision and substitution with Department since April with the TUI seeking an annual allowance of £2,200.