ASTI to decide strike future

The standing committee of the ASTI will decide this morning whether to suspend strike action pending talks aimed at resolving the three-month-old dispute.

Yesterday the union committee voted unanimously to accept the Taoiseach's offer to refund docked pay, without prejudice, if they returned to the talks table.

John Whyte of the National Parents' Council is confident the dispute is nearly over. "I would be very confident that the decision this morning will be to enter into meaningful negotiations.

"I am also confident that these talks will continue until a final solution is found," he added.