Teachers want clarity on masks
A Sligo school teacher and union official says teachers want guidance on whether or not face masks should be made mandatory in secondary schools. Masks are already compulsory on all public transport and the rules will include shops and shopping centres from next Monday. Kieran Christie is the General Secretary…
Dispute over legal cover for Leaving Cert teachers resolved
A dispute over the legal cover for Leaving Cert teachers has been resolved between the Department of Education and ASTI. The union had concerns the state indemnity being offered didn’t go far enough in protecting teachers from potential claims by students. They’ve received clarification that if a pupil, unhappy with…
ASTI express concerns over indemnity for calculated grades
The ASTI says it has concerns the indemnity brought in around calculated grades doesn’t protect teachers enough. The union believe it covers schools and principals but has received legal advice and is requesting the Minister for Education Joe McHugh and the Department of Education to provide full indemnity. Guidelines were…
North West teachers unsurprised by government threat
Teachers in the North West are believed to be unsurprised by developments between the ASTI and government over the Croke Park Pay deal. Schools around the country including some in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim received a letter this week stating that any surplus teachers would be facing redundancy instead of…
Minister says young teachers will lose out by staying outside deal
The Minister for Education says young teachers in the ASTI will suffer a permanent financial loss after the union rejected a new pay deal. Richard Bruton says the offer to bring new teacher’s starting salaries to 35,000 euro from 2018 was at the limit of what can be afforded. He…
Every school to be affected if ASTI members vote to strike
Up to 30 secondary schools in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal will be affected if the ASTI votes to go on strike. The 18,000 members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland are currently voting on proposals aimed at resolving a series of disputes between the union and the Department of…
Union denies using pupils as ‘pawns’ in their dispute with department
The ASTI is defending claims it’s using school children as pawns in its dispute with the Department of Education. The National Parents Council post primary yesterday hit out at the union calling for no more disruption to their children’s education and for any further industrial action to take place outside…