ASTI decision on pay deal by Friday

THE union representing more than 18,000 secondary schoolteachers is set to decide on Friday whether or not to reject the public service pay deal in a move which could lead to industrial action in schools.

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) will debate an emergency motion this morning which expresses “total and vehement opposition to the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014”, ahead of a possible ballot of members.

The motion, which also recognises that decisions on final salary are a reserved function of the union’s central executive council, is almost certain to be passed by delegates before it passes to the CEC on Friday.

It can then decide to accept or reject it by a two-thirds majority, or put it out to a general ballot, possibly with a recommendation. The motion to be discussed this morning calls on the 180-member executive to recommend the rejection of the agreement, ahead of a members’ ballot.

Up to 500 delegates arrived in Galway yesterday for the opening day of the three-day conference amid a growing mood of opposition to the pay deal, which was thrashed out following lengthy negotiations facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission.

ASTI president Joe Moran accused the Government of a “grossly unfair response” which had aggravated the situation still further.

“The trade unions offer of a negotiated social solidarity pact throughout 2009 based on a threshold of decency was rejected,” he said.

“Instead conciliation and arbitration schemes were ignored as two pay cuts, one under the guise of a pensions’ levy, were imposed through legislation.”

He said there were many reasons for rejecting the agreement, describing the one-hour non-teaching contractual obligation as showing no appreciation of the flexibility of teachers, and too vague.

“The most disappointing aspect of this proposal is it shows a total lack of respect and trust in teachers.”

However, he said members needed to consider the implications of rejecting the deal, and whether this was the most effective way of protecting teachers from the “regressive changes”.

General secretary John White told the conference: “You have to negotiate with your enemies, you can’t negotiate with yourself

“I agree with everything that is said [on the floor of conference], the problem is that you negotiate with your enemies.”