Teacher unions have opted for the one-day strike tactic before. 1995: In May there was a one-day strike over pensions and early-retirement deals for teachers. About 15,000 members of the ASTI and the INTO took part in a march and demonstration in Dublin. The National Parents Council called on the ASTI to postpone its action.
A further series of one-day strikes for later in the year was called off in July, after unions reached an agreement with the Government.
1985-86: A series of strikes over a 10 per cent pay increase given to teachers in an independent arbitration award report were held along with threats from teachers not to mark or supervise exams.
The ASTI, TUI and INTO all participated. The Government said it could not pay the amount.
There were one-day strikes on different dates in various regions, culminating in a national one-day stoppage in December. Some 20,000 teachers marched to the Dail after a rally in Croke Park.
The minister for education, Ms Gemma Hussey, caused controversy when she challenged the morality of teachers in the strike. She said these comments were misrepresented.
She had not challenged the morality of teachers seeking pay increases, but the morality of the tactics employed in the public clamour.
One or two practical exams in April and May were affected. The strike was stopped with an interim settlement in May, with a final settlement later in the year.
1969-70: Secondary teachers went on strike for a fortnight in a dispute over the salary levels in the common basic salary scale, which was being introduced at the time.
1964: In a strike over pay, secondary teachers refused to mark examination papers in the Leaving and Inter certificates. Other people were recruited by the State to mark the papers.