Schools told to impose financial penalties on ASTI members

The Department of Education has instructed school managers to immediately impose financial and other penalties on members of the ASTI for repudiating the Lansdowne Road pay agreement.

In an document yesterday the Department of Education said that in withdrawing from the Lansdowne Road accord, members of the ASTI were “also opting to forgo a series of benefits and protections including avoiding an increment freeze”.

“A further significant consequence of withdrawing from the Lansdowne Road Agreement will be the withdrawal of the benefits introduced for new teachers under the Ward Report, which enable them to gain permanent employment and full hours more quickly than before.”

The Department of Education said that the penalties, which were provided for under financial emergency legislation (Fempi Act) introduced last year, would be applied to teachers in voluntary secondary schools as the ASTI was the representative union in this sector.

Penalties

It said further guidance would be provided in the future in relation to the position of members of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) in such schools.

It said the financial emergency penalties would apply to teachers in voluntary secondary school as well as in designated community colleges and community and comprehensive schools who were not a member of any trade union as normal practice in the public service did not allow “for acceptance or rejection of collective agreements by staff on an individual basis”.

However, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe told the Dáil yesterday in answer to a parliamentary question from David Cullinane of Sinn Féin: "Similar to their unionised colleagues who have subscribed to the Lansdowne Road agreement, non unionised public service workers who comply with the terms of that collective agreement will attract the benefits of the Lansdowne Road agreement."

The Department of Education circular also stated the financial penalties would be imposed on teachers employed in designated community colleges and community and comprehensive schools who were not TUI members.