The Teachers' Union of Ireland has warned any attempts by the Department of Education to regard voluntary work - including lunchtime supervision - as part of a teacher's contract, would result in its members withdrawing from all voluntary activities within schools.
The statement was issued after a meeting with Dr Woods this afternoon in which the union demanded that the Department repay salaries deducted from ASTI members in respect of work-to-rule days last November.
The TUI condemned the "unjust, selective and insensitive manner in which the deductions were made." The Department of Education docked five day's pay from teachers who withdrew supervision services as part of their dispute over pay.
Yesterday TUI president Mr John MacGabhann said the union would not do exam work normally undertaken by the ASTI putting this year's Leaving and Junior Certificate exams in doubt. At today's meeting the union reaffirmed its stance saying the exams can only be supervised and corrected by qualified, practising teachers.
In a statement the union demanded that Dr Woods act "immediately, with goodwill and imagination, and do what is necessary to overcome the present impasse".
The union's executive is meeting this afternoon.
Meanwhile the ASTI has said it is disappointed that the Government is continuing to focus on contingency plans rather than dealing with its members in a constructive fashion.
A spokeswoman, Ms Gemma Tuffey, said the Government's treatment of ASTI members was extraordinary and had shattered teachers' confidence by the manner in which it was handling the dispute. The union has said it would not rejoin talks until the Department of Education made a commitment to refund the docked pay.
Ms Tuffey said the union remained hopeful the issue could be resolved and was shocked that the Government was prepared to put this summer's examinations in jeopardy.
She said it was amazing that the Government had allowed the situation to come so far.
Both the ASTI and the TUI have said they are opposed to any plans to have exams supervised by retired teachers and academics.