ASTI - Ireland's main second level teachers union

<- Back to: Press Releases

 

The ASTI Central Executive Council today voted to enter talks with the Department of Education and Skills. The union also reiterated its rejection of the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement which ASTI members rejected in a ballot in May of this year.

ASTI General Secretary Pat King said the outcome of the talks will be put to a ballot of ASTI members. The union is suspending its industrial action (with effect from Monday, September 20) pending the outcome of the talks.

“Under-resourced schools are being further undermined by an increase in the pupil-teacher ratio and a moratorium on middle management posts. Teachers have taken pay cuts and a worsening of their working conditions. Young teachers have lost jobs or had their hours reduced. The Croke Park Agreement asked teachers to sign up to a review of their contracts without detailing what such a review would encompass. This is the context in which ASTI members rejected the Croke Park Agreement and it is the context in which the ASTI will engage in talks with the Department,” said Mr King.

The ASTI represents 18,500 second-level teachers working in schools all over Ireland.

 Ends