Faction ordered to stop using Asti name in campaign

The Asti secondary teachers’ union has ordered an internal “Fightback” faction to stop using the union’s name in its campaigning, accusing it of undermining the democratically elected leadership.

Asti Fightback, which has been campaigning for a no vote in a junior cycle ballot, the result of which is due today, has agreed to drop the union prefix from its name.

“Fightback has not dissolved or disappeared: we are still a group of people within the union arguing for a different perspective”, said Mark Walshe, one of two members of the faction on the Asti’s key executive or “standing” committee.

The Asti put the latest junior- cycle reform plan to ballot without a recommendation for acceptance in a move linked to Asti Fightback’s public campaigning against the plan.

The faction held a press conference calling for a no vote just days before the Asti’s central committee was due to vote on the issue, and it publicly questioned the motives of senior union officials.

United

In contrast, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, the other union representing secondary teachers, has stayed united, recommending acceptance.

Among those eligible to vote in the 18,000-strong Asti ballot are 1,200 retired members. However, such “emeritus members” are not entitled to vote on a related ballot mandating industrial action if the reform is rejected by the union. In a statement to members on the “Fightback” faction, the Asti said: “Members should note that this group is not part of the Asti. It is not part of the democratic structure of the Asti.”

A motion was passed at standing committee demanding that the group and its members desist from using the Asti name in all literature, online, in print and on media. It also ordered the group to “desist from raising funds from Asti members for business separate to Asti business immediately”.

However, Mr Walsh was unapologetic. “We don’t intend to go away. Our union and other unions need to be stronger in defending their members’ pay and conditions; in the past our union has not been strong,” he said. “The idea that we are trying to split the union is quite ridiculous. Some of the mud that has been thrown at us is incredible.”