ASTI out to ‘woo’ members who joined rival

The loss of hundreds of members to a rival union has forced the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) into a campaign to try and win them back.

The ASTI leadership’s decision to make exception to normal rules that would impose a financial penalty on returning members was criticised by some delegates at its annual convention.

But the alternative of continuing to shed members, particularly to those moving to the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) but also to people opting out of any union membership, was described as unacceptable.