THE NASUWT was last night urged to "stand their action down" after its members began industrial action in schools.
It comes after the teaching union began industrial action, short of strike, in schools across Northern Ireland on Monday in a dispute over pay, workload and adverse working conditions.
It will affect teachers covering for other staff, overseeing exams, lesson plans, inspections and school meetings
Sara Long from the Education Authority has urged the NASUWT to return to "time-bound negotiations" adding that the action would disrupt pupils "educational opportunities".
A ballot saw 80 per cent of NASUWT members vote in favour of strike action and almost all voted for action short of strike.
Teachers previously received a two per cent pay rise for 2019/20 and two per cent again in 2020/21, but teaching unions rejected as "inadequate" a two-year pay offer for the years from 2021 to 2023.
The duties staff will not carry out include not co-operating with school inspections, refusing to "undertake invigilation of public examinations", not collecting money from pupils for school activities or cover for some staff absences with extra-curricular activities.
In a letter to schools, reported by BBC News NI, Ms Long said the NASUWT had taken a "unilateral decision to escalate to industrial action, rather than working collectively" with other unions and employers to find a resolution.
She said while employers recognised the right of teachers to take industrial action, "this action will not resolve issues and instead will bring further disruption to the operation of our schools, which are focused on recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic, and the educational opportunities that need to be provided for our children and young people in this difficult time".
Ms Long added: "Management side has formally requested the NASUWT to stand their action down".
