The leadership of the ASTI has denied a newspaper report that teachers are to get back pay for the three work-to-rule days that were docked by the Department of Education last term.
|
The report said the return of the pay is part of a peace formula worked out late last night between the union and the Department but a spokeswoman for the union told
ireland.com
that there are no talks taking place - clandestine or otherwise - and that until the matter of the pay has been resolved communication between the union and the Department will be made through the Labour Relations Commission's mediator, Mr Tom Pomphrett.
"No talks are in process as far as we are concerned, our position hasn't changed, there is no proposal at the present time," said ASTI spokewoman Ms Gemma Tuffey.
Yesterday the other major secondary teachers’ union, the TUI, warned any attempts by the Department to regard voluntary work - including lunchtime supervision - as part of a teacher's contract would cause its members to withdraw from all voluntary activities in schools.
Meanwhile Fine Gael spokesman on Justice, Equality and Reform Mr Alan Shatter said the impact of the dispute on students should not be ignored or forgotten.
Mr Shatter said: "Students in schools affected by the teachers dispute have been seriously disadvantaged in the competitive world of the Leaving Cert points system as compared with students fortunate enough to be attending grind schools untouched by it."