TUI under pressure to end action

THE Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) will be under pressure today to consider lifting industrial action in schools and colleges after a sister union decided to put the question to its executive.

The possible suspension of directives imposed on 18,000 members the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) at around 400 second-level schools will be discussed at the earliest possible date by its 180-member central executive council (CEC). The union rejected the Croke Park pay deal by ballot in May, but its standing committee decided on Tuesday night to call the meeting to discuss if talks can proceed with the Department of Education on reforms proposed under the agreement.

The deal was accepted by the wider public service union movement but strongly rejected by ASTI and by the TUI’s 16,000 members. The leaderships of both unions have, however, met department officials during the summer to update each other on their respective positions, although no discussions have taken places on specific reform proposals.

As well as deciding if those talks should continue, the ASTI’s central executive council will be asked if union directives should be lifted at schools which reopen over the next week.

The focus will now shift to today’s executive meeting of the TUI.