ASTI offers options on industrial action

ASTI is to offer members a number of options after a ballot showed support for industrial action over unpaid duties, it emerged tonight.

Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland on Friday voted 55% to 45% in favour of pulling out of supervising pupils during break times and covering for absent staff.

Following the result, the union’s central executive committee met and the 180 members decided to ask teachers whether they wanted all-out strikes, three-day-a-week strikes, demonstrations or withdrawal from some school duties.

Up to 600 schools across the country could be affected by the ballot, in which around half of the members voted.

General Secretary Charlie Lennon rejected suggestions that the union was split on the issue and described today’s meeting as "constructive".

Education minister Michael Woods has said he was "dismayed" by the ballot.

He was also "disappointed" that ASTI members were not given the chance to vote on a IR£27-per-hour offer the government had made for the "supervision and substitution" work.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) Executive has decided to endorse the offer which will be recommended by the union to its members within the week.

A spokesman said they had decided to recommend the offer because it allows teachers to opt in or out of the supervision work, and because it provides additional options for substitute cover.

Meanwhile, the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) is balloting its members on the offer by post, but without recommendations.

Those postal votes are due to be returned by Friday 26 October.