SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS who are members of the ASTI will begin their industrial action today, following their decision to reject the  terms of the Haddington Road Agreement.

In a ballot of members, a 65 per cent majority voted to take industrial action. This means from 8am this morning, around 16,000 teachers will refuse to attend meetings that take place outside of normal school hours or take on any extra duties without additional pay.

They will also withdraw co-operation with any in-service training organised for the new Junior Cycle Framework.

Last week, a body representing principals was critical of the planned action by teachers, saying it could be divisive in dual union schools where some are represented by the TUI who have accepted the public pay deal.

However the ASTI President Sally Maguire said that while the union recognised the action would involve “administrative headaches for principals, deputy principals and all teachers”, it would have little impact compared to that of the government’s education cuts.

Read: ASTI hits out at principals’ group over comments on industrial action>

Read: ASTI: ‘If they impose further changes we will be forced to react’>