Sir, - As a member of ASTI it has taken me over six months to come to an understanding as to why the present Minister for Education and his Government colleagues have adopted such an arrogant and carefree attitude to this ongoing dispute. This Government is driven by what is best for the economy, not by what is best for society.
We are the union who left ICTU and rejected the PPF. We are trying to settle our legitimate claim through the process used by numerous other unions and workers. The ESB have succeeded in getting 21 per cent plus the PPF by just threatening strike action. In this case, and other recent ones, it was down to the fact that industry and the economy would be detrimentally affected if there was no settlement.
The facts speak for themselves: the present Government is driven by economic forces, society comes a poor second. It is prepared to let students and teachers suffer knowing that they can be hung out to dry as it will not effect the economy. It is prepared to refer the ASTI back to the benchmarking process - a process rejected by the ASTI because of its unsuitability for our profession or any other caring profession.
Teachers do not produce products/services that directly affect the GNP. We only "produce" young adults, the fabric of society. - Yours, etc.,
Tom O'Dowd, Trim, Co Meath.