Woods warned that TUI will `take whatever action necessary' on pay

The Teachers Union of Ireland president, Mr John MacGabhann, has issued a stern warning to the Minister for Education that the TUI would take "whatever action was necessary" to gain substantial increases in pay.

"We made fair and modest submissions to the benchmarking body. I don't want to sound threatening, I simply wish to forecast the future with some accuracy," he told Dr Woods.

"We will work with you if possible, but we will work against you if necessary."

Mr MacGabhann said while arrangements had been arrived at on the voluntary nature of supervision and substitution the goodwill of schools and colleges had been, "very severely tested and, I suspect, rather severely damaged".

He received resounding applause from the congress when he told the Minister it was unacceptable that the goodwill should become, "collateral damage" because of injudicious statements and actions including the decision by the Cabinet to withdraw money from their ASTI colleagues.

Outside the congress, Dr Woods was confronted by four TUI delegates demanding "fair play" for their ASTI colleagues and calling on the Minister to "quit the bully tactics".

Dr Woods admitted that supervision and substitution had been contentions issues during the ASTI dispute but he said they were now being resolved in a practical way by the conciliation and arbitration scheme.

Despite the reception he received at the ASTI congress on Tuesday, Dr Woods was optimistic about next week's ASTI ballot on the Labour Court recommendations.

"I think there is a reasonable prospect that the ASTI would come back into the fold with the other unions and the social partners and I hope they will see it that way."

He commended the TUI for sticking with social partnership "through difficult times" even though he realised there were differing views on the issue within the union.

He told the congress that social partnership "provides for real democracy" and was the route of economic prosperity, but he said it must deliver on legitimate salary aspirations or the whole model of partnership would fail. "If that were to happen we'd all be losers."

As Minister for Education, he had a real interest in seeing teachers' pay improved. "Our teachers must be remunerated fairly and equitably so that they can maintain the enthusiasm and motivation to do a challenging job in changing circumstances."

Dr Woods said he realised there was suspicion about benchmarking as it was "essentially a new concept". He accepted a point made by Mr Mac Gabhann that generosity was needed, but said that "bench marking will deliver reasonably substantial improvements on pay" for teachers.

"I hope we will emerge with a better situation after this difficult time," he said.

Mr MacGabhann commended the Minister on his acknowledgement that teachers were entitled to substantial increases in pay. "Pay is and will for the foreseeable future be an issue."

However, there was still a question on the definition of the word "substantial" and he told Dr Woods: "It is time for making good on the promises to teachers."

Motions on pay due for discussion at yesterday's congress were referred back to the executive. Emergency motions on pay and benchmarking were then tabled but were ruled out of order. They may, however, be amended for discussion in today's session.