Negotiations on an improved hourly rate for teachers doing supervision and substitution were still under way late last night.
There were indications that the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) was poised to walk out of the meeting unless the Department of Education improves its €34 per hour offer. The Department is willing to consider some improvement in the rate, but this will only apply in the next school year.
The TUI is under intense pressure to secure a better deal after its members rejected the current offer by a clear majority earlier this year. The decision by the ASTI to boycott the talks is also increasing the pressure on the TUI. Last night one source said: "The TUI is expecting a reward for good behaviour. But if it's not forthcoming there will be trouble."
The INTO backed the existing supervision offer in its ballot but, like the TUI, is now seeking an improved hourly rate plus a guarantee that all payments will be pensionable.
Pensionability is now a less contentious issue in the negotiations. The Minister for Education, Dr Woods, already has signalled his readiness to consider making all supervision payments pensionable.
• The Department of Education is seeking clarification from the Attorney General after it was accused of giving incorrect information about the age of consent for sexual intercourse in material sent to schools.
In a briefing document for the Relationship and Sexuality course at second level, the Department says the legal age of consent is 16, when it is actually one year older.