Ballot result hangs in the balance

THE outcome of a teachers' vote on paid supervision of students is too close to call, union sources said last night.

The results of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) ballot to decide if members should back down on elements of their long-running industrial action is expected on Friday evening.

As eight days of balloting concluded last night, a senior figure said it appeared voting was very tight It is believed 50-60% of the 17,000 members voted, which is considered a fairly high turn-out. The counting of votes will begin tomorrow morning.