Primary teachers' union INTO says it will ballot teachers for industrial action, up to and including strike action, if talks with the Government break down.
Addressing principals and deputy principals in Athlone the union's general secretary, John Carr, said Taoiseach Brian Cowen's announcement this week that he plans to use the Budget to impose further pay cuts on public servants had 'all but brought the curtain down on partnership'.
Mr Carr told principals the Taoiseach had left no one in any doubt that public service workers were to be 'sacrificed' to part fund the bill for incompetent bankers and their speculator friends.
He said the INTO would not accept this.
In relation to principal teachers, Mr Carr said a directive issued in response to the embargo on promoted posts in schools was designed to protect teachers and most of all principals from being forced to take on additional work.
