National school teachers look set to follow their second level colleagues from the ASTI and lodge a massive pay claim.
Members of the Irish National Teachers Organisation want the top pay scale for teachers to rise from just over £31,000 to £40,000, a claim far in excess of the 30% being sought by the ASTI.
The union said it wants a reward for productivity and an increase that would reflect increased demands and workloads.
Meanwhile, the country's other secondary union, the TUI, is also preparing to put forward a demand which is likely to include a 40% rise in their basic salary.