Jack Wall
Question:124 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the ASTI pay claim; the steps he will take to ensure that industrial action is avoided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21492/00]
Written Answers. - Teachers' Remuneration.
The ASTI claim was for the immediate payment of a 30% increase in the pay and allowances of ASTI members. The claim by the ASTI was processed in the normal way through the conciliation and arbitration scheme for teachers. When agreement could not be reached the claim was submitted to the arbitration board as provided for in the teachers' conciliation and arbitration scheme. The Arbitration Board issued its findings on 25 September 2000. The board found that the claim should not be allowed but rather that, as in the case of teachers represented by other teacher unions, adjustments in pay be made on the basis of Annex II to Framework I of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. I have accepted the findings and my Department is now in the process of implementing the pay terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness for all teachers. As acceptance of the PPF automatically triggers payment of a special payment of 3% under the so-called "early settlers" agreement to teachers with effect from 1 October 2000, I am also authorising that this payment be made to ASTI members in common with their teacher colleagues in other unions.
The combined effect of the application of PPF and "early settlers" agreement will be that teachers' salaries will be increased by 8.5% from 1 October 2000 and with further increases of 5.5% and 4% to follow with effect from 1 October 2001 and 1 October 2002 respectively. These are significant increases in pay and, when taken together with the tax concessions under the PPF, will have a major impact on teachers' incomes.
I appreciate that the aspirations of the ASTI members have not been fully met. However, I have consistently made it clear to the ASTI and the other teacher unions at every opportunity that the only way forward is through the PPF. Once again I must emphasise the opportunities which the benchmarking mechanism, as set out in the PPF, provides for teachers to have their case independently evaluated by reference to both public and private sector comparable groups. The benchmarking body has already been established and has been asked to report before the end of June 2002. I urge the ASTI to pursue its aspirations for a fundamental review of the role and pay of teachers through the public service benchmarking body as is being done by other unions.