Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken to resolve ongoing serious industrial relations concerns in second level education highlighted by the ASTI trade union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1298/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Following discussions, the Teachers Conciliation Council published a set of proposals in November for consideration by ASTI members aimed at finding a resolution to their dispute. The ASTI Central Executive Committee took a decision to put the outcome of the talks process to a ballot of members with a recommendation to reject. The ASTI’s leadership have taken a view on the proposals. It is now over to the members to form their view.

The proposals provide ASTI members with an opportunity to benefit from the programme of pay restoration which commenced under recent public service agreements and which I have used to negotiate with TUI and INTO for substantial improvements in pay for new teachers. The agreement reached with TUI and INTO will see pay rises of between 15-22% (between €4600 and €6700) for new entrant teachers.

In addition, there are other immediate undoubted benefits for individual ASTI members in accepting the proposals including:

- Avoiding an increment freeze

- Inclusion of the S&S allowance of €1,592 into the pay scale

- Continued alleviation of the FEMPI Act pay reductions

- The Ward Report measures and a revised sequence for filling posts which enable fixed-term and part-time teachers to gain permanent, full-time jobs more easily and quickly than before

- An increase in the quantum of the Croke Park hours that can be worked on other than a whole-school basis

- A review of the usage of the Croke Park hours

- Protection against compulsory redundancy.

In addition, the Government yesterday moved to address an anomaly issue arising in the context of the recent Labour Court Recommendations in respect of the Garda Associations through an increase in annualised salaries of €1,000 for the period 1 April 2017 to August 2017 inclusive for public servants on annualised salaries up to €65,000 who are parties to the Lansdowne Road Agreement and who do not stand to benefit from those Labour Court Recommendations.

ASTI members will have to weigh these benefits up for themselves. These benefits are only available to ASTI members if they vote to accept. ASTI’s membership now have a decision to make as to whether to accept the TCC proposals and the immediate benefits on offer or to engage again in industrial action. It is for the ASTI leadership to explain its strategy in respect of the latter approach.

ASTI’s ballot will take place over the coming weeks. While that process is ongoing it would not be helpful for me to comment further.