RELATIONS have worsened between the Teachers' Union of Ireland and the administrative body for VECs. This poses new trouble for negotiations on renewing the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
The TUI reacted angrily to accusations it has acted in a "hostile" manner to the consultative process involving VECs around the State. The president of the Irish Vocational Education Association, Mr Brendan Griffin, said yesterday the TUI had been making "unfair and deliberately misleading assertions" that the IVEA was not willing to support improvements in teachers' salaries and conditions.
Mr Jim Dorney, TUI general secretary, said the IVEA was acting "unreasonably" and was endangering the entire PCW by its attitude.
Mr Griffin's comments come just days before the TUI and the IVEA are due to meet to try to end a dispute over new appointment and promotions procedures for vocational teachers. The two sides are scheduled to meet this Friday in an effort to resolve the dispute and, as a result, the TUI has suspended strike action set for December 5th.
The TUI has said it will not agree to a new package on teachers pay under the PCW unless agreement is reached on a new appointments procedure for vocational teachers.
The TUI is seeking defined criteria for appointments, an appeals mechanism to ensure these criteria are abided by and a re organisation of selection boards to protect against "political" appointments.
About 6,000 TUI members would be affected by the introduction of these new structures.
Early last month talks between the TUI and the IVEA broke down after IVEA management representatives refused to continue discussions on the matter until December. The TUI accused the IVEA of a "breach of faith".
Senator Joe O'Toole, general secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, said the IVEA's behaviour was irresponsible.