A chara, - I believe many of us are astounded at the insistence of ASTI that its members be paid for the nine days' industrial action taken before Christmas. Surely such an erudite band must be aware of the equality legislation adopted by this country from the EU over the past few decades?
A core value of this legislation is that all employees must be treated equally by their employers (in this case the Government). How, then, does ASTI expect that its members should be paid for refusing to teach when nurses, for example, who worked two to three days a week to provide emergency cover during their last industrial action were not paid at all for their emergency work on their wards? We may as well throw the equality legislation in the bin if the ASTI position prevails in this pointed instance.
I respect the teachers' right to strike. I strongly believe, however, that they are now rapidly losing credibility with the public over their latest unreasonable position, particularly in refusing to enter discussions without their strike pay. A work-to-rule action is an important right of every employee. However, what the teachers have done in the majority of schools around the country is to try to disguise their industrial action as a work to rule. Shame on them! Teachers who work to rule should have allowed classes to proceed first thing every morning and immediately after lunch. Such abuse of this industrial tool is deplorable and a rather poor example to the rest of us. Well done to Michael Woods for standing firm. - Yours, etc.,
Corinna A. Hopkins, The Seven Springs, Newbridge, Co Kildare.