ASTI accuses Ahern of upping ante in row
Striking teachers have accused Taoiseach Bertie Ahern of upping the ante in their pay row by claiming their union has been hit by a power struggle.
The ASTI says an article by Mr Ahern in today's Irish Tmes is "very unhelpful".
The union plans to hand-deliver its response to the Taoiseach in his office at Government Buildings.
This fresh war of words comes as the first regional stoppage by teachers hits schools in Dublin today.
Charlie Lennon, the General Secretary of the ASTI, says Mr Ahern’s intervention has taken the union by surprise and will unite his members in their pursuit of a 30% pay claim. He also claimed that the Taoiseach does not understand the democratic way that unions work.
Mr Lennon says he knows the public is growing frustrated with the dispute but adds that few strikes are popular. He believes that parents who know how hard teachers work are continuing to support the strikers.
The leadership of the ASTI was to hand in a letter to Government Buildings repeating the pay demands. That letter is now being rewritten in light of the Taoiseach’s comments.
Regional stoppages will continue tomorrow and Thursday as the strike enters a new phase.
