(if you can't see the poll above, click here)

The move by members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland follows on from its rejection of the Haddington Road deal.

The planned industrial action will see 17,000 secondary school teachers will withdraw from meetings outside of normal school hours on Wednesday 2nd of October - including staff and parent teacher meetings, in-service training and school planning.

ASTI members are also being directed to withdraw co-operation with any training organised for the new Junior Cycle Framework, and won't fulfill duties arising from vacated middle management posts unless they are remunerated in pensionable terms.

Diarmaid de Paor, Deputy General Secretary of the ASTI, spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning about the dispute.

Explaining the reasoning behind the proposed industrial action, Diarmaid said “if we had said we were going to go on strike or ban supervision or substitution... things that would close schools, I think then you would be screaming at us for starting at a very high level. We’re taking industrial action because we entered a deal with the Government. We gave certain commitments under that deal, all of which we have kept, and the Government reneged on that deal. “

You can listen back to the interview with Diarmaid de Paor below:

While members of the ASTI are trying to minimise disruption to students and teaching schedules, there are concerns the action could particularly affect Junior Cycle students. Meanwhile, other teaching unions such as the TUI have accepted the terms of Haddington Road, suggesting the ASTI will face a significant challenge seeking changes to the deal. 

Do you agree with the stance of the ASTI? Should the Government be engaging in further talks to prevent the industrial action? Do you believe an acceptable compromise can be reached? Vote in our poll and leave your comments below.