NSW/ACT Independent Education Union officials have confirmed to The Leader schools in the Armidale Catholic Diocese could vote on the action as early as next week.

The union has called the stoush a “dispute about how disputes are settled” and claims the Catholic Commission of Employment Relations (CCER) is refusing to include the option for forced arbitration with the NSW Fair Work Commission in a new enterprise agreement.

But the CCER has labeled the possible industrial action as “disappointing.”

"The union is calling for teachers to take industrial action over an existing clause regarding dispute resolution,” CCER Executive Director Tony Farley said.

"The clause is one that the union has previously agreed to with Catholic Schools and similar to the clause the Union has agreed to apply to over 450 private schools in NSW and ACT. The clause permits the Fair Work Commission to arbitrate with both parties’ consent.”

Union secretary John Quessy said meetings were being held across New England schools to determine the teachers’ stance on industrial action planned for later in the school term.

“Catholic schools in the Armidale diocese will definitely be affected if the action goes ahead,” he said.

“We are having meetings with those schools and if they’re supportive, we’ll be including them in an application for a protective action ballot. The Australian Electoral Commission will hold the ballot and if it’s successful we will undertake whatever action is being endorsed.”

Mr Quessy said he anticipated the industrial action would be for “at least” half a day.

“To the teachers, this is an absolute deal breaker, the only way to enforce it (arbitration) is go through the federal court circuit which is slow, expensive and very tedious.” 

Mr Farley said disputes brought to the CCER had been dealt with via mediation and “forced arbitration simply hasn't been necessary”.

"We’re urging the union to rethink its priorities to ensure teachers can begin receiving their higher pay and benefits as soon as possible,” he said.

“Let’s focus instead on the real challenges facing Catholic education as we confront expected changes to our funding.”