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# Schooled
'Talking is always better than walking': Relief this morning as teachers to attend pay talks
The agreement to suspend the action has been welcomed by the government and education bodies.
EVERY SECONDARY SCHOOL across the country is open today as the ASTI prepares to sit down with the Government and thrash out a deal over teacher pay.
The action taken by thousands of teachers concerns equal pay for those who began post-2011 and pre-2012, and who do not get the same pay as their other colleagues.
Actions planned by the teacher union revolved around pay for supervision and substitution duties.
Currently, teachers who are members of the ASTI do not get paid for supervision of lunch breaks or substitution duties.
The General Secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), Michael Moriarty, this morning welcomed the decision by the ASTI to suspend their industrial action.
He said: “We are relieved that the union has agreed to defer the directive to its members not to engage in supervision and supervision duties, which will permit all schools to open fully from today.
It is a relief that school life for students, which should always be our first consideration, can return to normal.
“Talking is always better than walking, and we exhort both sides to take this as a serious opportunity to find an acceptable compromise to ensure that the school year remains uninterrupted.”
The Department of Education last night released a statement welcoming the announcement.
It read: “The Department confirms that it has received an invitation from Anna Perry, chair of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC) and director of conciliation services, Workplace Relations Commission, to meet with her tomorrow to discuss matters of mutual concern relating to the ASTI’s industrial action that fall within the remit of the TCC.”
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