The Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) has denied a claim it is trying to block other teacher unions from getting pay increases under the new national pay deal.
The union's president, Ms Bernadine O'Sullivan, said it was "incorrect" to suggest other teachers would lose out on a 19 per cent pay increase because the ASTI planned to prevent them getting the money.
She was responding to newspaper reports which suggested the ASTI planned to invoke a clause in the teachers' conciliation and arbitration scheme - which says that when issues are "exceptionally important to the sector" all the unions have to act together.
She said the ASTI was against the Government forcing it to accept a 3 per cent "early settlers" pay award as part of the national pay deal.
An ASTI document which talked about invoking the clause was "not even discussed" at a recent meeting of the ASTI standing committee, she added.
