Mr. Andy Pike:

In response to the previous questions from Senator Conway, we are very grateful for the support of Independent Senators and TDs, including the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, who is a close acquaintance of Ms Carty and from the same part of the world.

In relation to discussions with other trade unions, we are going to talk to the INTO, the TUI and ASTI formally about arrangements for the strike, which commences on 28 August. We have not yet had any formal discussions with them. Our position is we cannot advise them what they should do. It is up to them to advise their own members. All we can say to them is that where a secretary and-or a caretaker is standing outside their school picketing, it is an official picket. Where that happens, if you are a member of a trade union, and the school sector is heavily unionised, as members will know, it is an individual decision whether to cross a picket line or not. We are not issuing any request. We will operate within the confines of the Industrial Relations Act 1990 as well. Only workers who have been balloted for a strike under that legislation can take strike action.

We have thought this through. We are at the end of the road with begging, pleading, writing nice letters and petitioning. We have done all that. There is no other option. We have thought long and hard about this and we think our members deserve the opportunity to fight for fair treatment. They have been begging for too long. There is now a sufficient number of them in the union that this industrial action will be effective. Yes, there will be disruption. That is unfortunate. The disruption is the fault of those who have not allowed them into the public service pay system.