Teachers' union: Government should rethink Croke Park deal

Secondary school teachers are today urging the Government to rethink the proposed cuts under the extension of the Croke Park Agreement.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland is starting its four-day annual congress today in Wexford, and it will urge members to vote against the latest deal.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation will also hold their annual congress today in Cork.

While the Teachers Union of Ireland meets in Galway tomorrow.

General secretary of the ASTI, Pat King, said that they will put the deal to their 500 members.

"If the members vote no, we will then see what way the other unions in the public service committee are voting," he said.

"Depending on the outcome of all of that, I suspect the Government may have to rethink the proposals in Croke Park 2.

"It may be that they have to engage again with unions.

"We're taking this stage by stage. At the moment, we're balloting and we’re recommending to our members to vote no."