Furious teachers threaten to walk out on minister

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn today faces the wrath of teachers over pay cuts in a Croke Park II deal that looks increasingly likely to be rejected by their unions.

Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland have warned him to expect a reception in Wexford like the one received by Justice Minister Alan Shatter at last week’s conference of middle-management gardaí.

Delegates at the ASTI convention insisted the union will tear up the Croke Park II deal when their postal ballot closes on Apr 12. Just two out of more than 200 members voted in favour of the agreement after a debate of nearly four hours yesterday.