ASTI members are poised to recommend rejection of the Labour Court pay offer today, in a fresh escalation of their dispute with the Government. They are also set to endorse a new wave of industrial action which could see the closing of schools in September and a go-slow by teachers. But the ASTI annual conference is unlikely to support moves which could see disruption of this year's Leaving and Junior Cert exams. Earlier yesterday the National Parents Council (Post Primary) (NPCPP) claimed its president had been verbally abused and intimidated by senior union members after she was invited to the convention.
NPCPP president Ms Marie Danaswamy was subjected to six verbal attacks, it was claimed. The NPCPP lodged a formal complaint with ASTI executives and its PRO, Mr Pat Herlihy, demanded a formal apology from the union.
The ASTI's president, Mr Don McCluskey, said if incidents occurred they were to be regretted and he promised a full investigation.
Earlier this month, the ASTI central executive council (CEC) voted to send the Labour Court offer out to a ballot of its 17,000 members - without any recommendation. But, with the mood among delegates hardening, a motion today recommending rejection is likely to be endorsed by the conference.
ASTI delegates will also be asked to endorse a fresh wave of action which could lead to renewed school closures and widespread disruption. The options to be considered today include:
Withdrawal from voluntary, unpaid supervision duties, which could force schools to close;
Refusal to provide short-term illness and substitution cover for absent colleagues, which will disrupt school life;
Non co-operation with all new Department of Education programmes and initiatives.
The Government hopes to resolve the supervision problem by paying teachers for this voluntary activity by September. But ASTI is refusing to attend conciliation talks due next month on the issue.
One source described the no programme as an "effective go-slow. We will adhere strictly to our contractual duties. We will do no more and no less."
ASTI members will vote next week on the court's offer and on whether to continue the union's ban on exam work. The offer gives ASTI members no up-front payment and points to the benchmarking pay review body, which they have already rejected. The Government says teachers stand to earn £40,000, once the benchmarking body reports in June of next year. Commenting on the NPCPP incident, ASTI general secretary Mr Charlie Lennon said the union treated its guests with courtesy.