Teachers expected to confirm one-day strike for January

It is expected the secondary teachers unions will confirm later that a one-day strike will take place in January.

The executives of the ASTI and the TUI will hold a rare joint meeting today to decide how to proceed in the ongoing row over reform of the Junior Cert.

Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan has asked the unions to return to talks over the dispute, which has already led to a day of action earlier this month.

Talks are expected to take place between the Minister for Education and the teaching unions in a bid to reach agreement on reforming the Junior Cert.

However, ASTI general secretary Pat King said a strike was the best course of action from the range of possible industrial actions available to end the row.

"A work-to rule would drag on for years," he said.

"We want it over and done; in and out. We want to move on to what we are supposed to be doing - providing good education to students. We don’t want disruption. We want this resolved."