A TEACHING union has ruled out calling off industrial action before Easter.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) had been asked to suspend its protest in order to enter talks with employers on overtime pay and time off in lieu.

Middlesbrough's 60 primary schools and 12 secondary schools are among those affected by the cover-to-contract action, where teachers are refusing to cover for unfilled posts, or absences of longer than three days.

But the NUT says it will not take part in talks until the Government gives more clarification on an independent evaluation of teachers' workloads.

A spokeswoman for the NUT said: "There is no possibility of the action being suspended this side of Easter.

"It will carry on because the teachers are finding a benefit from the action. Teachers in many schools are no longer being asked to prepare the lessons for supply teachers, as well as for themselves.

"There is no pressure from members to call off the action at the moment.

"The only pressure is from the Government, but they have to do more than just offer a statistical evaluation."

The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), which is jointly running the campaign, is willing to suspend action for talks, but said it will not step out of line with the NUT.