38 Galway schools affected by teachers’ industrial action

38 Galway secondary schools were affected by industrial action among teachers today.
There are 1,100 members of the ASTI in schools in the city and county, who are not participating in substitution or supervision today.
As a result, many Boards of Management have decided to leave schools closed today for health and safety reasons.
38 schools in Galway have ASTI union members, the majority of which are solely ASTI schools.
However, there are a small number of these which have dual unions in operation, such as ASTI and TUI.
Local ASTI representative, Noelle Moran says some schools with dual unions in operation are open today.
The Education Minister Richard Bruton has dismissed the row as just one hour a week of extra duties.
However, the ASTI union says it signed up to the Haddington Road agreement on the condition that pay for substitution and supervision would be restored.
The Department of Education is refusing to negotiate pay outside the Lansdowne Road agreement.
Noelle Moran from the ASTI says the government is trying to bully teachers into signing up to the Landsdowne Road agreement.
The Education Minister has denied that Gardaí are getting a better pay deal than teachers.
Minister Richard Bruton has warned that Garda pay rises will have to come from the Justice Department’s budget and says similar increases for teachers could mean fewer services.