The leaders of the three teacher unions have written to the Minister for Education, Mr Martin, asking him to take action to end a work to rule in his Department over staff shortages.
Since last Tuesday 240 members of the Public Service Executive Union in the teachers' pay and pensions section have been refusing to take on new work, cover for vacancies, do overtime or handle certain work coming from the Minister's office.
Mr William Hannigan of the PSEU said the section had "effectively collapsed" due to the "sheer volume" of the work the officials had had to take on because of new teachers' pay, early retirement and pensions schemes agreed two years ago under the PCW.
The general secretaries of the INTO, ASTI and TUI have written to Mr Martin saying the staffing difficulties at the Department had "inhibited the efficient provision of services to our members" and called on him to address the need for improved staffing immediately.