Strike threat at Mayo secondary schools

THE likelihood of distruption to Mayo secondary school classes is looming large.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland has voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action up to and including strike action over lower pay for newly-qualified teachers and what the union says are the worsening of ASTI members' terms and conditions.

Turnout on the ballot on pay for newly-qualified teachers was 77%, and 80% of members who voted backed industrial action.

 In a separate ballot on worsening of terms and conditions following the union's rejection of the Lansdowne Road Agreement, members voted 78% to 22% in favour of industrial action up to and including withdrawal from supervision and substitution. The turnout was 73%.

In both instances the ASTI recommended that members vote in favour of industrial action.

The 23-member ASTI Standing Committee will discuss the implications of the ballot results tomorrow.

This afternoon, ASTI President Ed Byrne said he expected school closures in early November.

'Today's ballot results demonstrate the depth of feeling amongst second-level teachers who have endured years of pay cuts and deteriorating terms and conditions. Teachers do not embark on industrial action lightly and strike action is always a very last resort,' Mr. Byrne said.