Uncertainty still surrounds Croke Park deal as teachers’ vote is split

THE ratification of the Croke Park public service pay and reform deal still looks uncertain after more than 51,000 teachers were split in their vote on support for the agreement reached in April.

As expected, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) rejected the deal but the larger Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has backed it. All three outcomes were in accordance with recommendations from the respective unions’ executives and their delegates at next month’s conference of Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) public services committee will vote accordingly.

The collective position of public service unions toward the agreement depends on the outcome of ballots of all 19 committee affiliates, with each member union given a number of votes determined by their membership.