ASTI deserves some credit for highlighting the issue of supervision. Until their pay campaign teachers did this important work on an unpaid and voluntary basis. The ASTI campaign forced the Government to rectify matters. Last year a proper structure for supervision was put in place. It is not ungenerous. Teachers are paid €38 per hour for up to 37 hours per year. The payment is pensionable and the scheme is entirely voluntary. Under the terms of the agreement, teachers cannot do more than 90 minute
The decision by the ASTI to re-ballot members on supervision and substitution will disappoint those who had hoped we were about to enter a new period of stability in the classroom. The good news is that the decision - and the distinct prospect of ASTI members rejecting the deal - will have little direct impact on students. The contingency plan, which involves the use of outside personnel, will continue.
Last November ASTI endorsed the supervision package by a 60:40 margin. The vote appeared to mark the end of ASTI's three-year campaign against the Government.
The current dispute has arisen because the union claims it was - in the words of their general secretary - "sold a pup" in advance of the ballot. Teachers, they say, were led to believe that they would be paid for being "on call" for substitution work. The management bodies and the Department of Education say payment will only be made on the basis of hours actually delivered.
A compromise paper tabled this week gave some additional reassurances to ASTI, but this was rejected and a re-ballot ordered.
The public will be dismayed by this turn of events. The agreement presented no problems for the other teaching unions and, once again, ASTI finds itself isolated. In many secondary schools the new system was already running smoothly until the 23-member ASTI executive pulled the plug. Not for the first time, there are indications that this dispute relates, in part, to the continued bitter internal feud in the union.
It is all very regrettable. ASTI members stand to lose a considerable amount of money and the good name of the teaching profession is again being undermined. The Minister, Mr Dempsey, has no alternative but to stand firm as ASTI heads down another cul-de-sac. He should press on with the contingency plan until ASTI comes to its senses.