Concern over escalation if deal turned down

The past month’s discussions between ASTI leaders and Department of Education officials have been a very fine balancing act.

On one hand, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn rightly could not be seen to give any concessions on the Haddington Road Agreement as the slightest erosion of its terms would send a procession of other union leaders to his colleague Brendan Howlin’s door demanding their own deals.

On the other hand, ASTI members had to be convinced there was enough in what emerged to end their month-long industrial action without being seen to have folded.