KEY POINTS:
The PPTA has rejected the Government's latest pay offer for secondary school teachers as "miserly" and is to meet members to decide whether to take any action.
Bargaining between the Post Primary Teachers' Association and the Government over the secondary teachers' collective agreement for the next three years was suspended this week with the parties still in disagreement on several points.
PPTA president Robin Duff said a 3 per cent annual increase offer on salaries was inadequate compared with the PPTA's demands for 4 per cent.
The Government had also refused to budge on PPTA claims for more and better paying positions for middle and upper management jobs, and more staff to give teachers more non-teaching time and help reduce class sizes.
"Secondary teachers will see this as a betrayal. Its offer won't address the increasing problems of recruitment and retention, or reduce secondary school class sizes, let alone enhance the quality of education in the next three years."
Negotiations in 2001 turned into 15 months of acrimonious strikes and industrial action before teachers were satisfied with offers on pay and conditions.
The 2004 round was far less fraught, and Mr Duff said the union had hoped this year for a similarly smooth process which would avoid industrial action. But Government promises to engage more constructively for the long term were proving "empty words".
"The minister preaches about the need for high-quality teaching and personalised learning for every student, but this offer suggests he doesn't want to pay for it."
The ministry has refused to include staffing levels in the bargaining process, saying they are a matter of Government policy rather than employment agreements.
Mr Duff said the PPTA would hold regional meetings next month.
