Secondary school teachers will hold a one day strike before the general election.

It comes after members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) voted 89% in favour of industrial action over issues of pay and security of employment for young teachers.

Members will engage in a one day strike on a date yet to be decided.

They say the stoppage will go ahead unless their demand for meaningful talks is met.

Lecturers in Institutes of Technology will also strike on February 3rd over serious concerns in their sector.

Speaking this morning, TUI President Gerry Quinn said: "Following an overwhelming mandate for industrial action from members, TUI's Executive Committee today decided that unless the union's demand for talks on a number of crisis issues is met, teachers will take a day's strike action before the general election".

"Teacher workload has increased significantly and administrative duties are deflecting teacher time from the core roles of classroom teaching and learning".

"Despite the current rhetoric about economic recovery, anti-educational cutbacks continue to have a devastating effect on the quality of service to students in terms of larger class sizes, less access to one-to-one attention and less pastoral support", he added.