Teachers ballot result due soon

A result is expected shortly in the ASTI's ballot on the Labour Court deal aimed at ending the long-running dispute.

There has been a huge turnout and most commentators are still predicting a close result.

Two questions were put to the ASTI's 17,000 members:

Firstly the acceptance of the Labour Court's clarified package of proposals and secondly, in the event of a rejection of the deal should this year's state exams be targeted in a new campaign of action.

It is still thought that the second element will be rejected and there will be no threat to this years exams but the ballot on the Labour Court deal is more difficult to call.

There has been a much higher turn out than originally thought with 80% of secondary teachers voting in this ballot and shortly we should know if secondary schools face another years of chaos this September.