ASTI - Ireland's main second level teachers union

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Speaking about the public sector strike today, ASTI General Secretary John White said teachers don’t want to be on strike, but that further industrial action looks likely if the Government refuses to listen to almost quarter of a million public sector workers. 

“Teachers don’t want this strike. Public servants don’t want this strike. But the Government has failed to discuss with us a fair way of dealing with the economic crisis. The unions have offered a fair and workable alternative which seeks to ensure:
• the burden of recovery is spread,
• vital public services are protected,
• private sector workers , public sector workers, and their families are protected.

“Last year, teachers and other public sector workers suffered a severe pay cut. The pension levy alone took around 7.5% away from teachers and on top of this all workers, including public sector workers, were hit with an income and health levy.

“Around 1,000 second-level teachers lost their jobs or had their hours cut in September. Many newly qualified teachers cannot find work in teaching.

“Teachers are well aware of the impact of the recession on the communities they work in. They know colleagues, family members, friends and parents of pupils they teach who have lost their jobs or had their working hours cut. A major plank of the unions’ plan for economic recovery is addressing the job crisis and protecting the unemployed.

“While teachers are anxious to get back to their classrooms tomorrow, further industrial action may be the only way of convincing the Government that quarter of a million workers, their families and many others want a fairer way.” The ASTI will work intensively with other public sector unions in discussions with the Government this week to seek to resolve this crisis.

The ASTI represents 18,000 second-level teachers who work in schools all over the country.

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