Turkeys voting for Christmas: ASTI members face grim choice

DID you ever hear of a trade union putting an offer negotiated

The whole idea is ludicrous.

The supervision and substitution package negotiated by the TUI and the INTO is due to be balloted on in the next few weeks by the members of the ASTI.

This ‘offer’ will breach the working conditions gained by the ASTI in the 1970s.

What other worker, trade unionist or otherwise, would be asked to sign up to:

1. ‘Overtime’ for their entire working career (which, in a teacher’s case, is 40 years).

2. Sign up for ‘overtime’ at less than their basic rate of pay?

3. Extend their working week by one and a half-hours, and also extend their working day?

Shame on the INTO for negotiating such a package. Shame also on Jim Dorney of the TUI, but even greater shame on Charlie Lennon for putting such a derisory offer out to ballot reducing the status of the teaching profession to an all-time low. As the ASTI were not party to negotiations, it would be most helpful if all members were issued with a referendum-style information leaflet on the supervision substitution offer in advance of voting.

If this was done I am sure that this so-called ‘offer’ would be rejected with a resounding ‘no.’ Better still, if you must change policy, as the ASTI is the biggest second level teaching union in the country, at least enter into your own negotiations with the Department of Education and Science. For a teacher to vote for the offer as it stands, in my opinion, would be tantamount to a turkey voting for Christmas.

Phil Robert,

4, Sycamore Green,

The Park,

Cabinteely,

Dublin 18.