ASTI 'may be balloted on Croke Park withdrawal' if allowances cut

The General Secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) has said that the union's members may be balloted on withdrawing from the Croke Park deal if teachers' allowances are cut.

Addressing around 450 secondary school teachers at the union's annual conference in Cork today, Pat King said there is a great misunderstanding of teachers' pay among the public, which he said was fuelled maliciously by Government backbenchers.

Delegates at the conference have been debating the Croke Park deal this morning, with many voicing their opposition to the agreement.