Teachers accept 1,400 supervision deal

THE Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) have voted to end two major elements of their long-running and divisive pay dispute.

Members of the 17,000-strong union, whose members teach 80% of the country's second level students, gave 63% support to accept a 1,400-a-year supervision and substitution deal. The 55% turnout also gave 58% support to a suspension of their ban on teaching new course material.

Their withdrawal from voluntary supervision duties last March in pursuit of their 30% pay increase claim has cost taxpayers well over 20 million to replace them with supervision staff in 450 voluntary secondary schools.

The ban on implementing new syllabi has partly disrupted student preparations for the examination of new biology and home economics courses in the 2004 Leaving Certificate.

Although last night's result will be seen by some ASTI hard-liners as standing down from their tough position, the union recently reaffirmed its commitment to the wider pay claim.

Their 23-member Standing Committee will report to their central executive next January on a suitable strategy.

Following last night's result, ASTI president PJ Sheehy said their campaign for better pay is far from over.

"There is still a significant gap between teachers' salaries and those of comparable professions, and we will be looking at ways to bridge that gap," he said.

Education Minister Noel Dempsey welcomed the outcome of the ballot on both motions.

"All the teacher unions have now accepted the deal on supervision and substitution and I believe this result is the foundation stone for putting relations with the unions back on an even level," said Minister Dempsey.

The Joint Managerial Body (JMB), representing management of voluntary secondary schools was also pleased with the ASTI decisions.

"We hope this will lead to a period of calm in our schools after what has been a difficult time for all those involved," said JMB general secretary George O'Callaghan.

The paid supervision deal was accepted in the last month by the Teachers Union of Ireland representing staff in more than 300 schools and the 22,000-member Irish National Teachers Organisation.