Parents and the general public will be deeply concerned by the surprising turn of events in the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI), which threaten a renewed phase of disruption in secondary schools. In a surprise development, the union decided not to put the Department of Education pay offer on supervision to a ballot of members. Instead, its executive is recommending a withdrawal from supervision and substitution in a ballot which begins shortly. If members agree, there is a serious danger of chaos in the educational system within a matter of weeks. In a repeat of the pattern which emerged during the ASTI dispute last year, managers may be left with no alternative but to close schools on health and safety grounds.
The issue of supervision has been a running sore in the education system. For years, the Department of Education refused to reform a ramshackle system in which teachers perform supervision and substitution on a "voluntary" basis without any payment. The continuance of this system is a blight on the education system and an insult to the dedication and professionalism of most teachers. ASTI's withdrawal from supervision - and the resulting closure of schools - during their pay campaign did, at least, help to bring this neglected issue into focus. In its findings on ASTI's 30 per cent pay demand, the Labour Court sensibly said that the whole ad hoc system for supervision needed to be regularised.
At first, ASTI refused to join the other teaching unions in discussing the issue until its pay demand was resolved. But last month, its leadership did begin negotiations. The deal worked out last week is a belated attempt by the Department to provide a proper regime for supervision. The work will remain voluntary but those opting for it will receive 1,000 for 37 hours work in the school year - the equivalent of 27 per hour.
It is not a perfect deal; some teachers would like to see all payments considered for pensionable purposes. Others would like to get a better hourly payment for what they regard as overtime working. But, in the current economic climate when, for example, Aer Lingus workers must forego the latest 5.5 per cent PPF payment, it does not seem unreasonable.
It would be good to hear the views of ordinary ASTI members on this issue. The other second-level union, the TUI, has voted to allow its members vote without any recommendation and the ASTI could usefully follow suit. Many in the union are deflated and angry after what has been seen as a disastrous pay campaign. Votes of no confidence have been tabled in the leadership. There is evidence of further internal dissent and division.
But renewing battle on the supervision issue makes little sense. The union should be sufficiently brave and democratic to seek the views of its 17,000 members on this package.