As the social partners enter the final phase of talks on a new national pay deal, the prospect of industrial action at secondary schools and third-level colleges has increased significantly.
The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) voted on Saturday to leave the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), which means it will not be represented at the talks.
Its central executive committee also voted to submit a 30 per cent special pay claim to the Government, although this is regarded as an opening position.
Separately, the committee voted to ballot its members for industrial action soon unless an existing 5 1/2 per cent pay claim is met by the Government.
The industrial action would not necessarily involve a strike initially. Non-co-operation with school and college managements would be the first action taken, said a union representative.
The union said the early settlers pay claim was not advanced sufficiently by ICTU and this was the reason for leaving the organisation. The early settlers issue arises because ASTI claim secondary teachers settled early in the last pay round and consequently have fallen behind other public sector groups.
Many speakers at Saturday's meeting complained that the ICTU was adopting the position that the early settlers claim could be granted only within the context of the next national agreement. "We want it granted without any strings attached," said a union source.
A motion was also adopted by the central executive committee against any "school-based or individually based system of performance-related pay".
The willingness of the ICTU to enter into negotiations on pay related to performance has fuelled anger in the ASTI and the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI).
The two unions are to meet this week to plan a common approach to the early settlers and performance and pay issues. The TUI's executive met on Friday and said it would ballot its members if performance related pay was part of the new agreement. It also said it would leave the ICTU if performance based pay was written into the agreement.
Yesterday, the general secretary of the ICTU, Mr Peter Cas ells, said: "We obviously respect the decision of the ASTI and it is an internal matter for the union whether or not it affiliates to congress.
"However, it is regrettable, as a we enter a crucial phase in negotiations on pay, incomes policy and education policy, in talks on a successor to Partnership 2000, that the ASTI will not be represented at the table."
Mr Cassells addressed the standing committee of the ASTI on Friday night, but his attempts to reassure its members about the early settlers and pay and performance failed.
The TUI has staff in vocational, community and comprehensive schools and institutes of technology. The ASTI has staff in secondary schools throughout the State.
Despite the move by the ASTI, ICTU's negotiations on a new deal will continue on schedule, said Mr Cassells. The talks, which are expected to include a formula for dealing with the issue of early settlers, are due to conclude by next Monday. The early settlers also include most Civil Service grades and several other groups.
While the ASTI and the TUI have publicly adopted positions against performance-related pay, both unions have members who are prepared to look at what the Government proposes. The INTO has also stated a willingness to discuss the issue.