ASTI members face wait on vote to rejoin ICTU

THE members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland are to vote on rejoining the Irish Congress of Trade Unions but a vote might not take place for several months.

The decision to ballot members was taken yesterday at the ASTI annual convention and is a significant step for the union, which withdrew from Congress five years ago and has been deeply divided in recent years on the question of a possible return.

Some elements within ASTI claim the ICTU was unsupportive during their long-running pay dispute and that pursuit of long-standing policies might be best served with an independent voice.