The Education Minister Michael Woods has said he is dismayed by today’s decision by the ASTI to reject the latest peace moves in the teachers pay row. The Minister is insisting he is ready to immediately pay back wages docked from teachers over their days of action before Christmas.
He also said that he remained ready to enter into meaningful negotiations with the ASTI.
In a stinging attack on the teachers' body Minister Woods said it was unthinkable that any self-respecting trade union would put the futures of so many children at risk.
He argued that the Benchmarking Body was also ready to consider any claims that the ASTI may wish to make.
Once again he insisted that the Government would do everything in its power to ensure the Leaving and Junior Certificate Exams would go ahead in the summer. The Education Minister added that it was still not too late for the teachers to reverse today’s decision in the interests of the children