ASTI hold further talks to discuss pay increase

THE Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland will hold further talks before making any response to the benchmarking offer of a 13% pay increase.

The standing committee of the largest second-level teaching union, in a dispute with the Government for more than two years over its 30% pay claim, met for five hours yesterday.

However, talks will continue today on the matter before officials make any formal statement. Their withdrawal from the benchmarking process and social partnership have left them alienated, and has also led to major disruption for more than 250,000 students.