SIPTU has strongly criticised the ASTI for failing to attend a Labour Court hearing involving its head office staff yesterday.
In an unprecedented move, the ASTI also threatened the court with High Court action if it proceeded with the hearing.
Last night SIPTU said the union had acted in a discourteous manner, and that teachers across the State would be "appalled" if they knew how its head office staff were being treated by management.
The Labour Court hearing was called to hear concerns from clerical, administrative and press office staff at the ASTI's Dublin headquarters.
The staff claim that the atmosphere in head office has become intolerable because of internal division in the union.
Staff are also unhappy about the non-payment of expenses because of a dispute about the kind of claim form used.
Last night the ASTI president, Mr Pat Cahill, said the union leadership had decided not to attend the hearing on legal advice. "It was never our intention to demean or in any way undermine the stature of the court," he said.
The legal advice to the union was that it could not attend the Labour Court hearing while a High Court injunction obtained by its general secretary, Mr Charlie Lennon, remained in place.
Mr Lennon has secured an injunction restraining Mr Cahill and the ASTI vice-president, Ms Susie Hall, from proceeding with an inquiry into alleged bogus expense claims. Mr Lennon claims the inquiry team has shown ill-will and prejudice against him. This is rejected by both Mr Cahill and Ms Hall, who say they have complied fully with ASTI dispute procedures.
The High Court case is expected to resume later this month.
Last night SIPTU official Ms Patricia King said ASTI had disregarded the agreement for dealing with issues involving head office staff. "In June, we referred the issues to the Labour Relations Commission but the management side refused to attend. We had no option but to refer the matters to a full hearing of the Labour Court."
