Trade unions must not be provoked into doomed actions, leader warns [IrishTimes]
- Published: 07 April 2010
ASTI GENERAL secretary John White said members “must have full and comprehensive information on their options” when voting whether to accept or reject the public service agreement.
Addressing delegates at the ASTI annual convention in Galway yesterday, Mr White acknowledged that members of the union’s standing committee found many of the aspects of the agreement unacceptable.
Indeed, the committee had been loud in its expression of “total and vehement” opposition to the agreement but Mr White urged delegates to consider the ramifications of all options.
“Acceptance would entail detailed negotiations of all of the elements,” he said. “Rejection could involve possible imposition of elements of the deal.”
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Special needs parents question official figures [leinsterleader.ie]
- Published: 07 April 2010
The parents' group, representing children with education difficulties, said the report needs to come with figures stating the number of SNA hours reduced during the review and the number of children who have had SNA hours reduced or increased.
Full Story: www.leinsterleader.ie
Teachers divided over pay deal [IrishTimes]
- Published: 07 April 2010
THIS WEEK’S teacher conferences have been dominated by debate over the public service pay and reform deal. It is apparent there are clear divisions within the teacher unions; the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has narrowly backed the proposed deal while the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) are vehemently opposed. All three unions will ballot their members on the deal. Both the ASTI and the TUI will recommend rejection.
The proposed deal is by no means ideal; even its main proponents openly acknowledge this. Some of the benefits are conditional and uncertain while some of the dangers are clear, especially from the teacher perspective. Teachers are concerned the new deal – which promises a review of their contract – will fundamentally change their working conditions. There are also concerns about the possible introduction of performance-related pay, additional productivity demands and changes to pension entitlements, especially for younger members.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Editorial: A tough task for Coughlan [Herald.ie]
- Published: 07 April 2010
Teachers are clearly unimpressed by the message from Education Minister Mary Coughlan that they need to make a contribution to stabilise the public finances.
Both the TUI and ASTI have made it abundantly clear that they are opposed to the renegotiation of teachers' contracts. It is a massive challenge for the new minister to heal this ever-growing rift.
Minister met with silence at teachers' conference [eecho.ie]
- Published: 07 April 2010
The Minister for Education has been met with stoney silence at the TUI annual congress in Ennis.
Only a handful of delegates left the hall when Mary Coughlan took to her feet.
The Minister offered an olive branch by announcing a review of the moratorium on recruitment of middle management, to relieve pressure from retirements.
However, she again re-iterated that further cuts will be needed to keep the economy on track.
Full Story: www.eecho.ie
