ASTI could rejoin national pay talks

THE Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) could return to the table at national pay talks if members vote to rejoin the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) later this year.

The 16,500-member union withdrew from congress during its pay dispute five years ago but a series of meetings to discuss the merits or otherwise of a return began last month.

It is one of just three unions not affiliated to ICTU, whose 44 member organisations represent 550,000 workers.