Sir, - As an ASTI member, in deciding how to cast my vote in next week's ballot on an offer which is not really an offer, I have to face two rather unpleasant alternatives.
1. Do I vote Yes and accept the small amount of progress that has been made, and place my faith in a process which despite the Minister's assurances promises a very uncertain outcome?
2. Do I vote No (as the majority at the convention suggest), and go down a road that promises further alienation from all those whom we might see as our natural allies in this protracted dispute?
At the moment, whether we like it or not, the ASTI is engaged in an unwinnable war, fighting single-handedly the onslaughts of the Government, the media and parents' organisations, and the determination of other public sector unions to make sure that we do not succeed. I see little merit in prolonging such a situation through the next school year, despite the justice of our cause.
Can we in the ASTI, for once this year, box a little clever? Let us just put it up to the Government, and those in the trade union movement which is so convinced of the merits of benchmarking. If it is right, we all gain! If not, we will at least have some company during the next campaign! I would rather spend next year waiting for the benchmarking than in a war of attrition which will become more and more disedifying as time goes on.
Of course we have the democratic right to pursue our claim independently. I was all in favour of that course of action last October, but realistically what are we likely to gain by continuing industrial action next autumn? Now is the time for cool, hard thinking - perhaps using our heads more than our hearts.
While respecting the wishes of convention delegates, I will be reluctantly voting Yes next week, and would recommend others to do likewise. If, however, the other process fails to deliver, I will be among the first to head for the trenches, hopefully accompanied by members of the other teaching unions. - Yours, etc.,
Pat Hanratty, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.