Two secondary school unions to survey members on possible merger

Cork-based ASTI standing committee executive member said he can see the advantages have having one single union 'with the strength of the whole of second level behind it.'
Two secondary school unions to survey members on possible merger

TUI president David Waters  said the ultimate aim  is to 'create a new union that, at its heart, is member-focussed.'

THE two unions representing secondary school teachers have agreed to survey their members and ask if they would like to see the unions merged.

The survey was launched at the annual conferences of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) and Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), with a Cork teacher saying that “a number of ASTI members have valid concerns”. The survey of members regarding the prospect of amalgamation of the ASTI and the TUI will run from April 10-25.

The ASTI represents solely secondary school teachers, while the TUI includes teachers and lecturers in post-primary schools, adult education colleges, institutes of technology, and technological universities.

Pay deal

Though there have been conflicts between the two unions in previous years, both unions recently signed the same deal for pay increases, and many secondary schools have some staff who are TUI members and some who are ASTI.

The survey will ask if members are in favour of forming one single education union representing members in the post primary, further/adult and higher education sectors, and if members support continuing the work towards amalgamation.

ASTI president Geraldine O’Brien said: “In recent times, representatives from the TUI and the ASTI have engaged in extensive discussions around the prospect of unification.

“Both unions have engaged constructively and in good faith. We have examined both unions’ rule books and continue to explore a potential structure for a new education union.

“There remains a considerable amount of work to be done if we continue to proceed with the project.”

TUI president David Waters added: “The ultimate aim is to create a new union that, at its heart, is member-focussed.

“Any new entity would acknowledge and respect the traditions of each union, while also forging a new organisation that is able to face the ever-changing challenges of the industrial relations landscape.

“Of course, any outcome that emerges from our ongoing engagement will require comprehensive and substantial membership consultation within both unions and will ultimately be adjudicated upon in ballots of members.”

Advantages 

Cork English teacher and member of the ASTI standing committee executive, Conor Murphy, told The Echo: “I’m teaching in a dual union school, the split between TUI and ASTI is about 50/50, and so can see the advantages have having one single union with the strength of the whole of second level behind it.

“Going into management with smaller, school-based issues would be easier if we were all coming from the same place. And, of course, it would mean a stronger voice going into the larger department-based issue.

“But a number of ASTI members have valid concerns regarding an amalgamation, and so it makes sense to ask the members for clarity, to make sure the large majority want to continue talking with our sister union.

“If the membership indicate their support for the work to continue, this survey will be another important step on this road.”

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