ASTI in strike threat over cuts

A major teachers' union has warned the Government that it will consider taking industrial action if there is any attempt to unilaterally impose Croke Park II pay cuts.

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland issued the threat after debating an emergency motion on the issue during a private session yesterday.

On Monday, the union kicked off its annual conference by seeing delegates vote through a motion opposing the Croke Park II plans, claiming it would cut pay, cut services, and damage children.

The union is currently balloting its ordinary members by post on the same issue, with the results due to be counted on Apr 12.

However, in anticipation of a widely expected landslide against the Government’s proposals, an emergency motion discussed yesterday said the if the union was not listened to it may strike over the stand-off.

The motion, which was passed unanimously, said:

n- STI will vote in accordance with its members at the Public Service Committee meeting of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on Apr 17. This meeting forms a key part of what response the trade union movement will have to the deal;

- Any subsequent decisions by ASTI will also be “in accordance with the best interests of ASTI members, in accordance with the decision of members in the ballot, and will not be dictated by any other body”;

- Should the Apr 12 ASTI postal ballot reject the Croke Park II plans, as expected, “the ASTI will work with the other teacher unions, and other unions, in defence of public sector pay and conditions”;

- If the Government attempts to “impose salary cuts unilaterally” or change working conditions regardless of this stance, which would be a breach of the first Croke Park deal, “then an immediate meeting of Standing Committee will be convened to consider an appropriate response by the ASTI, including a ballot of members on industrial action”.

Meanwhile, the final day of the ASTI annual conference in Co Wexford yesterday raised further concerns over salary and allowance cuts, the safety of pupils and high teacher unemployment rates at a time when more pupils are coming into the school system.