ASTI general secretary Pat King has called for unity, warning that “sniping from the wings” is undermining the union’s leadership and weakening its hand in negotiations.
In his key address at the ASTI convention in Wexford yesterday, Mr King said “the media world is far from sympathetic to teachers’ interests” and it was important for members to act together.
“Teacher disunity is music to the ears of our opponents.”
Mr King took the floor fresh from a radio interview in which he condemned the actions of protesters who interrupted Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn's speech on Tuesday.
Apologised
Mr King said he apologised to Mr Quinn immediately after the event for the interruptions and the Minister accepted his apology. Most teachers were "appalled by that kind of behaviour", Mr King said.
Other delegates spoke from the podium supporting his criticism of the protests. However, there was also strong criticism of Mr Quinn who was accused of talking down to the convention.
The union’s incoming vice-president Máire Ní Chiarba, a teacher at Coláiste an Phiarsaigh in Glanmire, Co Cork, said “we don’t know if it’s the Minister himself who’s totally arrogant, or if those advisers aren’t advising him well – but they are well paid to do so – but he thought he was going to come to speak to us here yesterday in the arrogant way he did.”
She said: “I’m afraid Minister, you don’t know us, and you don’t understand us.
“We have made our position extremely clear on the framework for Junior Cycle.
"He knows how we feel and yesterday he came and talked over us and tells us he's going ahead."
More cuts
In his address to delegates, Mr King accused the Government of having "torn up the rule book" on industrial relations with a view to isolating teachers and extracting more cuts.
The ASTI was campaigning to undo these cuts, as well as reverse Junior Cycle reforms, but he stressed that “when in a battle we must speak with one voice and we must all publicly support the policy position or tactical position decided on.
