Secondary schools will shut tomorrow as teacher talks fail to resolve pay row
Tomorrow's secondary teachers strike will go ahead after talks between the ASTI and the Department failed to achieve a resolution today.
Teachers who strike will lose a day's pay tomorrow. A total of 507 schools out of 735 will close tomorrow, with 228 remaining open.
The two sides will meet for further talks on Friday after three hours of talks today.
ASTI president Ed Byrne said very little had been achieved.
It comes as the Department of Education issued a circular saying if teachers do not report for supervision and substitution duties after the midterm break, they will be off the payroll from November 7.
Ed Byrne said that was a provocative move.
"Progress was static (and) large differences remain," he said.
"It's worrying that our members will have their pay threatened. After all, it is not they who are shutting the schools."
Education Minister Richard Bruton said: "I am disappointed by the decision of the ASTI to take industrial action which will close schools unnecessarily tomorrow.
"There is a deal on offer to ASTI which would see pay increases of 15% and 22% for new entrant teachers, with further benefits in terms of working conditions, and a route to further possible improvements after that through the Public Pay Commission.
"It would not be equal or fair for us to conclude sectoral deals with particular groups of public servants to the exclusion of other groups of public servants.
"To do so would also mean that we do not have the money left in the public purse to provide increases in social welfare payments for vulnerable groups, tax reductions for people at work, or investments in improvements in public services that people rely on, such as the extra 2,500 posts in schools which was announced in the recent Budget."
