Updated 11.00

The ASTI is warning that secondary schools could close as a result of industrial action - if the government moves to cut teachers' pay.

The teachers' union is recommending its 17,000 members reject a revised Haddington Road deal.

Second level teachers are currently involved in low-grade industrial action in a dispute over pay - which has seen them refuse to take part in meetings outside of school hours.

General Secretary of the ASTI, Pat King, says if the government moves to further cut pay as a result of the industrial action - then the dispute will escalate and schools could close, "We have been told by the Department ... that they will move to impose the changes on teachers. If the Department escalates the row by doing that we will have to respond, as a union must do, and tell our people not to take that direction from the Department."

Mr. King told The Pat Kenny Show the package is not attractive:

Don Myers of the National Parents Council told Newstalk parents are getting irritated:

Pat Kenny asked Mr. King if his members are just out of touch:

Earlier, the President of the ASTI Sally Maguire told Newstalk's Breakfast warning that teachers would have to respond if Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn used the legislation available to him and imposed the changes:

The results of the ballot on ASTI members will be announced before Christmas, the union says.