ASTI votes on rejoining congress after five years

MEMBERS of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) are taking part in a historic vote to rejoin the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) - more than five years after withdrawing from the organisation.

A long-serving member is urging a vote in support of the return, despite views that teachers’ confidence in ICTU may be low in light of reported difficulties in social partnership talks.

The ASTI is one of just three unions still outside congress, whose 44 affiliates represent 550,000 workers.