Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland
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| Full name | Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland |
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| Native name | Cumann na Meánmhúinteoirí na hÉireann |
| Founded | March 17, 1909 in County Cork, Ireland |
| Members | 17,500 (2016) |
| Affiliation | |
| Office location | Dublin, Ireland |
| Country | Ireland |
| Website | www |
The Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) is a trade union for secondary school teachers in Ireland. It is a member of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The union represents 18,000 teachers schools throughout Ireland attended by 80% of all second-level students.
The ASTI represents teachers on educational issues and working conditions. The objects and aims of the ASTI are:
The ASTI will act as a professional advocate for second level teachers, offers legal protection to its members, campaigns for improved working conditions and ensures continuing professional development for teachers providing research facility for teachers where necessary. The association will also provide a team of experienced industrial relations negotiators to assist teachers facing difficulties at school. The ASTI set up a Credit Union in 1984.
The ASTI began life on St. Patrick’s Day, 1909, in Cork, Ireland, at a meeting called by teachers of St. Colman's College, Fermoy. There had been an Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) since 1868 and they had been successful in gaining better working conditions and pay for their members. At the time conditions for secondary teachers were very poor with men earning about £80 a year and women a little over half that. One of the aims of the association was to raise the status of teachers in the community.
The main force behind the formation of the union was Patrick Kennedy, born in Cloughjordan, an inspirational teacher in St Colman's. Founding members included such national figures as Easter Rising leader Thomas MacDonagh, whose godfather was Kennedy's father and who was a close friend; and the future Taoiseach and President of Ireland Éamon de Valera.
In 1911 the decision was taken to establish a women’s section within the ASTI, which was named the Women Teachers' Association (WTA). The role and social acceptance of women teachers changed dramatically from a place where women secondary teachers had to retire on marriage to a place where women became president of the union.
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