ASTI instructs teachers to cease working extra hour a week

The country’s biggest second-level teachers’ union is to issue a formal directive to its members over the coming days to cease working an additional hour a week.

This move by the ASTI is likely to trigger a range of penalties for thousands of teachers under financial emergency legislation unless issues can be resolved over the summer.

The union's standing committee, however, has decided to accept an invitation from the Minister for Education a Richard Bruton to discuss "issues of concern" to the union and the Minister.

This afternoon, Mr Bruton said he was disappointed by the ASTI’s decision which amounted to a “repudiation” of the agreement, but hoped the union’s decision to enter talks would be constructive.

“I am disappointed that the ASTI has chosen to repudiate the agreement. However, I also understand that the union has indicated that they will accept my invitation to talk,” Mr Bruton told the Dáil.

“I hope that this will give the union and my Department the opportunity for a constructive exchange of views on matters of mutual concern.”

A meeting, however, may come too late to avoid penalties provided for in financial emergency legislation which are due to be implemented from July 1st onwards.

The Department of Education warned earlier this year that a rejection of Croke Park hours would amount to a repudiation of the Lansdowne Road agreement and would trigger a series of financial penalties.

These measures would result in teachers losing up to €31,000 over the next four years.

Teachers are required to work an additional 33 non-teaching hours - which amount to just under an hour a week - under the Croke Park and Lansdowne Road pay deals.

They are typically used for school planning and staff meetings, but are widely resented by many union members who regard them as “detention for teachers”.

In a statement following its standing committee meeting today, ASTI president Máire Ní Chiarba said teachers have experienced a significant deterioration in their working conditions in recent years.

“Young and newly qualified teachers have been disproportionately affected due to the introduction of new pay scales and new pension arrangements,” she said.

“Many of these teachers are unable to obtain secure employment and do not earn a full salary,” he said.