Sir, - In his article of April 27th, Noel Buckley asks what teachers have done to lead to such "vigorous scape-goating" in the media. It is a valid question and one many teachers must be asking themselves. The answer, of course, is that teachers have done nothing to deserve this barracking. It is common knowledge that they do a difficult, stressful and demanding job and that they should be compensated appropriately for doing it.
Why then, the editorials and columns sniping at their virtuous cause? Is it because all journalists bear grudges from unhappy classroom days? Possibly. Is it because journalists have come to realise that the Government is always right? Unlikely. Or is it because the ASTI has consistently left itself and the people it represents open to criticism through gross incompetence?
As Noel Buckley states, teachers have achieved nothing in six months of industrial action. In the meantime, other unions (in ESB and Aer Lingus) have secured agreements with employers which do not appear to unduly stress the PPF (which Mr Buckley calls inflexible). These unions have shown a willingness to compromise, as has the Government. Hence agreements could be reached.
The impression is that the ASTI want it all and they want it all now. This is not just the impression given by evil, grudge-bearing, teacher-hating journalists. It is the impression given by the ASTI leaders on the many occasions that they have been given right of reply both in The Irish Times and other media.
The ASTI Easter conference was an opportunity for teachers to regroup and reflect on progress or lack thereof to date, and to rethink the approach to be taken. It was an opportunity to save face with the public who, whether misguided by the media or not, are taking the Government's side. A simple gesture made by the ASTI showing a willingness to compromise would have begun to get a groundswell of public support behind them. The ASTI however, managed to turn a golden opportunity into a PR disaster.
Everybody wants good and well-paid teachers. How the ASTI has managed not to tap into this underlying feeling to gain widespread support needs answering. How the ASTI has managed to achieve nothing in six months of industrial action also needs answering. ASTI members need seriously to question their leaders on these issues. They also need to consider what will be achieved by using next September the methods of protest which have so far managed only to alienate teachers and weaken their cause. - Yours, etc.,
Paul O'Shea, Castle Elms, Coolock, Dublin 5.