asked the Minister for Education if she has had any communication separately or collectively from the teachers' unions in connection with their claim to be owed £75 million on foot of the amended arbitrator's award; her views on whether such claim would come within the provisions of paragraph 3.2 of the draft agreement on pay in the public service of October, 1987; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Teachers' Claim.
55.
The general secretaries of the three teacher unions requested a meeting with me to discuss this issue. A meeting was arranged for 16 July, 1987, but was postponed by mutual agreement. Before a new date was set the matter was raised in the context of the talks between ICTU and the Government on the Programme for National Recovery.
The Government's position is that they are unable to consider payment of the money in question during the currency of the Programme for National Recovery. However, they recognise the right of the teacher unions to raise the matter again with them on the expiry of the period of the programme.
This matter does not come within the terms of Clause 3.2 of the present draft agreement on pay in the public service as it relates to a case that was the subject of an arbitration finding which is being implemented under the terms of a previous agreement on pay.