CHARLES O'TOOLE,
Sir, - Following the report by your education editor, Sean Flynn, on March 11th entitled "ASTI's president says its strategies must be reviewed", I wish to congratulate the president of the ASTI, Catherine Fitzpatrick on her initiative and wish her every success. I would like to draw her attention to some points which would achieve improved prospects of a resolution of the present difficulties.
1. The decision to leave the Irish Congress of Trade Unions was a serious mistake which left us isolated at a time when solidarity could have provided more positive results. A high priority should be an immediate return to Congress by the ASTI.
2. Immediate action should be taken to establish a more co-ordinated strategy with our fellow teaching unions, the TUI and INTO.
3. There must be a more positive attitude to benchmarking. It is ludicrous that we allow the negotiations to proceed without the ASTI having any input. The ASTI must become involved in the benchmarking negotiations immediately to press for improvements in pay and conditions for its members. Presumably, the membership will be given the opportunity to decide whether to accept or reject the proposals arising from these discussions.
4. We have allowed ourselves to be distracted from our main target of justified improved pay and conditions by the disruptive and alienating issue of supervision. We should adopt a more positive approach by participating in discussions to deal with this peripheral topic. - Yours, etc.,
CHARLES O'TOOLE,
Fintan's Road,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.