Strike day/industrial action suspended
***This morning (Wednesday, November 11th) ASTI Standing Committee agreed to suspend all industrial action and strike action to allow for consideration of proposals in relation to a public service pay deal. This follows a decision of the ICTU Public Services Committee last night.***
Just after midnight on November 11th the ICTU Public Service Committee met. At that meeting, the committee was presented with an overview of the proposals reached on a new public sector pay deal. Each Union was asked to suspend strike action to allow for members to consider the proposals and to ballot on them.
The ASTI Standing Committee met at 7am on November 11th to consider the report from the Public Service Committee. Standing Committee decided by majority vote to suspend all industrial and strike action and allow members to consider the proposals.
The main elements of the proposals are:
Pay: 10.75% in pay increases from 1st September 2026 to 2nd March 2029. These are set out in detail on page 16 of the attached document.
Productivity: The relevant text for teachers is on page 26. It is broadly a continuation of processes that members are already engaged on.
Local Bargaining: 1% of the remaining 2% to be paid on 1st March 2029. This proposal is of significant concern to the ASTI given the potential implication to your collective agreement on Senior Cycle Reform.
The full text of the proposals are available here.
Next steps
Under the ASTI Rulebook, the Central Executive Council must now be convened to consider the pay proposals. The Central Executive Council represents all 56 branches of the Union and has a key role to play in consideration of any pay proposals. Today we will be working on the arrangements for this meeting with a view to confirming the details as quickly as possible. Any decision/information on a ballot of union members will only emerge after the CEC has met.
Background to dispute
In September, ASTI members voted by 95% to 5% to take industrial action, up to and including strike action, over the Government’s failure to negotiate a meaningful public service pay deal that addresses the cost of living crisis for teachers.
Over 20,000 second-level teachers who are members of the ASTI began initial industrial action involving withdrawal from selected activities such as the Croke Park Hours from Monday, October 5th.
ASTI members participated in a public-service-wide day of strike action on Wednesday October 14th, with pickets placed on all second-level schools where ASTI members teach.