ASTI members may risk pay rise over row

THE teachers’ union in dispute with Education Minister Noel Dempsey over a new science course could find itself locked out when it is being decided if their stance warrants pay increases being stopped.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) is not represented on the body charged with approving benchmarking and other pay increases earmarked in the Sustaining Progress social partnership deal.

The ASTI issued a directive last month to members not to teach the revised Junior Certificate science syllabus, because they feel the condition of some school labs pose a health and safety risk for teachers and students.