Tipperary ASTI members say it's time for a third party to be brought in to broker a deal between teachers and the Government.
Hundreds of schools are closed today as the union members have withdrawn from supervision and substitution duties
Talks between the union and the Department of Education remain at a standstill over pay for supervision and substitution duties, while the issue of equal pay for newer entrants to the profession is still unresolved.
Due to the withdrawal of teachers from substitution and supervision, the majority of school managements have closed due to health and safety.
Noel Buckley, Executive member of the ASTI & Clonmel teacher says his colleagues would much prefer to be in the classrooms today
Not all schools are affected by the action; in Tipperary all ETB schools are open as is Nenagh College.
The teacher's action comes just days after a last minute deal was put on the table for Gardaí, they called off their strike last Friday, now it seems that other public sector unions could seek hikes for their members.
However, the Taoiseach says there won't be a loosening of the purse strings to increase public sector spending, while the Education Minister says it will be up to the Workplace Relations Commission to assess when and if it should intervene in the teachers’ dispute.
Richard Bruton says talks between his department and the union are continuing to try and find a resolution.
But Noel Buckley says if a commitment was reached on newly qualified teachers was given, this dispute could end quickly.
Meanwhile, an open evening due to be held in the High School in Clonmel on Thursday evening has been postponed until further notice.
