The emergency joint motion was brought before the ASTI’s annual conference in Kerry – and will see a similar motion brought before the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) conference in Wexford on Wednesday.
If ongoing talks over the senior cycle reforms fail to resolve union concerns, the Government could face the threat of industrial action by all second level teacher unions from September.
Both secondary school teacher unions are adopting a unified approach to the controversial senior cycle changes which Education Minister Helen McEntee has refused to postpone.
ASTI general secretary Kieran Christie said the emergency motion was brought after the Department of Education refused to agree to a one-year postponement of the new senior cycle changes to allow adequate time for preparation, staff training and resources reviews.
Mr Christie said the refusal to sanction the 12-month delay generated “dismay and disappointment.”
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – April 22nd
Intensive talks between the ASTI, TUI and the department have resumed this month to try and reach agreement before the senior cycle changes come into force in September for the 2025/26 academic year.
“The talks are not stuck but the department will have to dramatically ‘up’ their game,” Mr Christie warned.
“There are significant issues unresolved.”
Mr Christie stressed to delegates that, along with the teacher recruitment crisis, the proposed senior cycle changes are the key priority for the union.
Teacher unions are seeking department guarantees on staff training, class resources, teacher indemnities, time audits, IT facilities, syllabus details, revision work and subject development data collection.
There is also major concern over the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the new senior cycle.
The joint approach between the ASTI and TUI was agreed to present the department with a united front and to exert maximum pressure to ensure teacher concerns over the senior cycle changes are addressed.
Under the emergency motion, the ASTI set out four major priorities – adequate time and resources for senior cycle planning and delivery, comprehensive support for affected teachers, staffing and timetable concerns to be addressed and infrastructure and assessment support to be resolved.
The motion overwhelmingly backed a ballot for industrial action if the department fails to tackle teacher concerns.
“Convention instructs that, in the event that these intensive talks fail to deliver an acceptable outcome that can be put to ballot, the ASTI, in conjunction with the TUI (where possible) will utilise all mechanisms available to the union, up to and including a ballot for industrial action, to defend professional standards and protect student outcomes.”
Padraig Curley of the Donegal ASTI branch said the motion and joint approach with the TUI was very important.
“It strengthens our hand in future negotiations,” he said.
The motion was seconded by Padraig Murphy.
Seamas Keane of Fingal ASTI branch said it was “outrageous” that the department had refused well-grounded union appeals for the senior cycle changes to be paused for 12 months.
Lily Cronin of Kerry ASTI branch said the lack of facilities and resources for science teachers, in particular, was nothing new.
“There are huge concerns…it is an insult, the way that ASTI concerns have been treated,” she said.
She added that teachers also have major concerns over AI.
“None of us know where it is going.”
Ian McColgan of Dublin ASTI branch accused Education Minister Helen McEntee of adopting an “Orwellian approach” to senior cycle subjects.
“There are serious concerns about the new curriculum and they need to be addressed,” he said as he warned that laboratory technician resources also need to be provided.
John Kenneally of Clare ASTI branch said it was vital that both the ASTI and TUI maintain a unified approach for maximum negotiating strength.
“We need the TUI with us,” he said.
However, Sinead Murphy warned it was “unbelievable” that teachers could be expected to operate a new curriculum from September when its introduction was still under intensive discussion between the department and teacher unions.
Christopher Davies of Sligo ASTI branch said that while unity with the TUI was important, ASTI branch democracy was also vitally important.
He said strong action against the proposed senior cycle changes should have been taken months ago.
“We need to go into the talks with industrial action (ballot) in our back pocket,” he said.
Mr Davies warned that the union cannot afford to “kick the can down the road” over such critical issues.
Mark Walsh of Dublin North East ASTI branch opposed the motion while backing the joint stance with the TUI.
He said the unified approach with the TUI would prevent the department from adopting “a divide-and-conquer” policy over the senior cycle negotiations.
Mr Walsh opposed the emergency motion on the basis it did not specifically demand the department concede a 12 month pause on the senior cycle changes to allow for negotiations and course talks.
“What are the red lines…the key demand is postponement,” he said.
Several speakers criticised the emergency motion as weak for not demanding that the Government concede a 12 month postponement of the senior cycle changes.
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