One of the most outspoken supporters of past industrial action by the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI), Bernard Lynch, could be elected as vice-president of the 17,000- strong teachers' union at its annual convention today.
In a move that is likely to trigger some concern in Government and Department of Education circles, if successful, Mr Lynch would normally become the union's president in a year's time.
Mr Lynch is a vocal critic of second-level teachers' participation in national pay deals, and has strongly supported industrial action by teachers in pursuit of their 30 per cent pay claim.
As nurses prepare to commence rolling work stoppages tomorrow, sources in the union have labelled today's election at the union's annual convention in Sligo as "too close to call", with Mr Lynch's opponent, Cork-based Pat Hurley, also drawing strong support.
In a pre-election statement, Mr Lynch warns that teachers are "currently participating in national pay deals that don't properly reward teachers for the vital and demanding work we do".
"Instead, they impose ever-increasing demands for extra work on already over-burdened teachers, in return for pay increases that don't even match inflation."
Mr Hurley said last night special needs, school discipline, class size and teachers' pay, conditions and pensions would be among the key issues he intended to highlight. He said there was a need for "cost of living" pay increases to be passed on to teachers without conditions attached.
He expressed sympathy for the current industrial action by nurses, and said that if there was an issue where teachers needed to take industrial action, he would "not hesitate" to do so, following full consultation with members.
However, he supported the ASTI's recent decision to rejoin the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, while believing that education matters should be addressed by the education unions.
Another strong supporter of the ASTI's past pay campaign, Bernadine O'Sullivan, is contesting a Seanad seat in the forthcoming election.
Mr Lynch was unavailable for comment yesterday. However, in a pre-election information leaflet, he calls for proper funding of education, and a halt to the "erosion" of teachers' conditions of work.
He also calls for the development of alliances with other teacher unions to pursue "common goals", before adding that there was a need to control the "modernisation" agenda and "demand the changes that teachers want".
Mr Lynch took a High Court action in 2001 challenging his exclusion from meetings of the ASTI's executive for alleged disruptive behaviour, before eventually having his legal fees of €76,000 paid by the union.
He also announced his plans to resign from the ASTI two years ago, before reconsidering.