Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2016
43. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the indications from the ASTI that it will ballot for strike action on the grounds of the use of financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation against it. [28389/16]
View answerI understand that ASTI is currently conducting two ballots of their members – one on industrial action relating to new teachers’ pay and a second ballot on industrial action, including withdrawal from supervision and substitution duties, in relation to terms and conditions. In addition, ASTI have issued a directive to their members to withdraw from the Croke Park hours. These are the 33 hours of additional work per year (less than one hour per week) that were agreed under the Croke Park agreement, to facilitate staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings, etc., without closing schools. ASTI's decision to withdraw from these hours means that the union has repudiated the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
In opting to withdraw from the LRA, ASTI members are also opting to forego a series of benefits and protections. These include avoiding an increment freeze, continuation of the alleviation of the FEMPI Act 2013 pay cut for higher earners, the addition of the €1,592 Supervision and Substitution allowance to the pay scale and protection against compulsory redundancy. Further significant consequences of withdrawing from the Lansdowne Road Agreement are the withdrawal of the benefits introduced under the Ward Report and the non-application of the revised sequence for the filling of posts/hours, both of which measures enable new teachers to gain permanent employment and full hours more quickly than before. In addition, newly qualified ASTI members will not receive the benefits of the recent agreement reached with TUI and INTO on new entrant pay.
In relation to ASTI’s current ballots, it would not be appropriate for me to comment while the ballots are ongoing. However, I have previously stated my belief that continuing dialogue between my Department and the ASTI would be in the best interests of schools, parents, students and teachers as is evidenced by the agreements reached with the INTO and TUI. It is regrettable that ASTI seem determined to pursue a route of confrontation rather than dialogue. Despite this, my Department is making arrangements to continue the ongoing discussions with ASTI in relation to their issues of concern.
