THE central executive council of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) has recommended that its 15,200 members reject the proposed new national agreement, Partnership 2000.
In a separate vote, it agreed to recommend acceptance of improved terms offered to secondary teachers under the restructuring clause of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. The vote in favour of the £70 million package was 78 to 77.
A "substantial majority" of the council decided on Saturday to recommend rejection of Partnership 2000 on three grounds because outstanding PCW proposals had not been finalised; because teachers were being asked to commit themselves to unspecified changes to basic pay rises; and because commitment in the area of education was seen as inadequate.
The ASTI hopes to have thee result of its ballot before the ICTU meets on January 30th.