ASTI move is welcomed by Woods

The Minister for Education has welcomed the latest move by the ASTI.

Minister Michael Woods said the Labour Court's recommendations are the best way to resolve the pay row.

Ever since the Labour Court first made recommendations on the secondary teachers pay row with the Government, Minister Woods has accepted its terms and urged the ASTI to do likewise.

Now he said he will consider the Labour Courts clarifications in the same manner.

While welcoming the news last night that teachers would be balloted on the terms, he congratulated the work of Finbar Flood, who chaired the discussions between the Department of Education and Union leaders.

The Minister also said the decision to lift the ban on co-operating with the state exams would be a relief to thousands of who face the exams this summer after months of disruption at over 600 schools across the country.

For the moment it seems, students will be able to prepare for the exams in relative calm with hopes that the ballot of teachers in April could end this damaging dispute once and for all.