There is, at last, some glimmer of light in the teachers' dispute. Showing an uncharacteristic strain of compromise, the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) yesterday deferred strike action planned for today and tomorrow and returned to the Labour Court. Great credit is due to the Labour Court, who employed a shrewd mix of carrot and stick. . . leaving the ASTI with no creditable alternative.
The ASTI has now signalled that the clarifications of the original court recommendation, - to be finalised today - will be put to a ballot of the union's 17,000 members. This is to be welcomed. The union's membership was not balloted on the decision to leave the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. It was not balloted on the decision to reject the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF).
In fairness, it did endorse powerfully a programme of strike action. But that was several months ago when disruption to State exams - and the resulting trauma for students and their parents - seemed like a fanciful notion. The union was also balloted before the shape of the benchmarking process was known. Since then, many of the misconceptions about benchmarking have been laid to rest, as the Labour Court made clear. The process has been fast-tracked. It does not involve performance-related pay. It will reward teachers for past productivity.
From the ASTI's point of view, the revised Labour Court offer is far from perfect. There is no payment up-front. It is also abundantly clear the union must use the benchmarking process if it hopes to secure substantial pay increases over and above those already flowing from the PPF. But the court's proposals are subtle and progressive. It has provided additional reassurance on the benchmarking body, where teachers will now serve on the secretariat. It also provides a process whereby the ASTI, in consort with the other teaching unions, can gain additional monies and allowances for a range of non-teaching duties. It provides a much-needed teaching forum. This will provide a new professional model for teachers. Hopefully, it will end the current chaotic situation where teachers are expected to adapt to change in the classroom and outside it in a haphazard way.
This is an excellent package which can unlock the present deadlock, bring the ASTI in from the cold and allow it renew its once formidable alliance with the other teaching unions. The ASTI's reckless and irresponsible action, running since mid-November, is damaging pupils, unleashing a dangerous wave of student protests and undermining the status of the profession.
When they come to ballot teachers will need to think carefully. They should embrace the offer from the Labour Court due today. But they might also ponder the consequences of more conflict and confrontation.