The mood among the ASTI members in Galway was upbeat and determined yesterday.
Thousands of secondary school pupils across the city and county had another day off after teachers informed school authorities they would be withdrawing their services from voluntary duties such as supervising yard and lunchtime activities.
Without teachers to supervise, 33 Galway schools were forced to close as they could not fulfil health and safety requirements. There would also be insurance implications.
Pupils and parents were informed in advance of the action which involves about 900 ASTI members in Galway. The members turned up for work yesterday morning and spent the time catching up on work.
The regional co-ordinator for the ASTI in Galway, Mr George Moran of St Jarlath's College in Tuam, said he was in no doubt that if the dispute was protracted, the other two teaching unions would react.
He said: "If you go back in history, you can't say teachers are a militant group. There have only been two serious forms of industrial action before, in 1969 and 1985. Teaching is a very stressful and tiring job, but most people do not appreciate or understand this." Mr Moran said more and more senior teachers wanted to get out of the system because of the pressure of the job.
He stressed: "There is no way I want to penalise my Leaving Certificate students. I have an onus of responsibility to them and I do not want to see them or their parents victimised. The people who hold the key to the solution are in Dublin, Minister McCreevy and Minister Woods."
