A chara, - With reference to Paddy Mulcahy's letter of January 5th, I would like to point out that the INTO has at all times been both supportive and understanding of the ASTI position and statements to this effect have been issued by the INTO and published in the media.
Undoubtedly, the Department of Education has been clumsy and arrogant in the extreme in its handling of the dispute. This began with the assertion attributed to the Minister for Education that "teachers had it easy" and was continued in the debacle of the pay deduction for the work-to-rule days at the very time that talks were getting under way. This decision should be reversed immediately.
The INTO, like the ASTI, is pursuing a substantial pay rise for its members to compensate for the recent huge increases in the workload of primary teachers together with the projected increase in workload in the near future arising from impending curricular and legislative changes. In my view it is essential that all teacher trade unionists work together to counter those who seek to denigrate and undervalue our profession rather than engage in bickering among themselves. - Is mise,
Declan Kelleher, (INTO Central Executive Committee), Ennis, Co Clare.