Third level teachers who are members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) have voted in favour of industrial action.
The union said 92% of members polled voted to take industrial action, "up to and including strike action".
The issue is over what it claims is "non-adherence" by the Department of Further and Higher Education and institute management to a collective agreement concerning the establishment of technological universities.
It said there can be no regional variations in pay or conditions in the sector, in which it represents 4,600 academic staff.
The TUI has urged the Department to engage meaningfully on the issues.
"There must be parity of esteem across the technological university sector and any regional variations in pay or conditions are completely unacceptable to us," said David Waters, TUI President.
"The TU sector must continue to have nationally agreed terms and conditions for all the grades represented by the TUI and for any proposed new grades within the scope of the Union," he added.
In 2017, TUI members at third level voted in a national ballot to accept a collective agreement concerning the establishment of TUs.
Mr Waters claims the Department and management have not adhered to this collective agreement.
"We have already described the Department’s approach as an attempt to dismantle the sector (which is protected by the agreement) and to force through a desire to have each TU free to operate separately, without regard or recourse to national negotiation.
"The agreement provided for retention of the sector - previously the Institute of Technology sector and thenceforth the Technological University sector - and for prior meaningful communication, consultation and, where appropriate, negotiation with the TUI on relevant matters. It also specifically provides for a national review of lecturing," he added.
Mr Waters said TUI members accepted the 2017 agreement in good faith in a national ballot.
He said the options open to the union will be assessed by the executive committee.
