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.

The consultation is the outcome of a motion passed at the ASTI’s convention in March to allow members vote on the issue. A briefing document outlines the cases for and against affiliation and a report is to be prepared after the meetings conclude next week.

The union’s central executive committee must consider the report at its January meeting or at a special meeting, which president Sheila Parsons can convene, before a vote is called.

“The process decided on last Easter is continuing, we are consulting with members and they will decide on the ICTU issue,” she said.

It is understood there will be pressure for an early ballot, given that talks on the next social partnership deal could begin within weeks and the second public service benchmarking exercise is due to begin next year.

Salaries of the country’s 50,000 teachers have risen more than 20% in the past two years as a result of the Sustaining Progress deal and benchmarking increases.