Primary and special-school teachers represented by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action over public-service pay. The INTO says its members will begin a work-to-rule on October 5th, with further action, including a possible strike, to be considered later in October.
Breaking News: What INTO members have decided
The INTO central executive committee announced the decision on Friday, September 18th, after members across the union’s 155 branches took part in a ballot. The result gives the union a mandate for a campaign of industrial action aimed at securing what it describes as a credible pay settlement for the second half of 2026 and beyond.
More than 48,000 INTO members in the State are covered by the announcement. The ballot recorded a turnout of 57.5 per cent, while 95.5 per cent of those who voted supported industrial action. That result was well above the two-thirds threshold required by the union.
- Work-to-rule is scheduled to begin on October 5th.
- The action affects INTO members in primary and special schools.
- Teachers will not work beyond their contracted daily teaching hours.
- Additional hours, including those linked to the Croke Park Agreement, will not be supported.
- The union is also expected to participate in a proposed nationwide public-sector strike on October 14th.
Why are teachers taking industrial action?
The INTO says the dispute centres on the failure to deliver a new public-service pay agreement and what it describes as the Government’s failure to honour the previous agreement in full. The union has also pointed to uncertainty around salaries during a period when household expenses remain under pressure.
According to INTO general secretary John Boyle, teachers are struggling with the cost of food, travel, energy, fuel, mortgages and rent. The union has framed the vote as a response to the financial pressure facing teachers and their families, rather than as an isolated workplace dispute.
Pay is not the only issue cited by the organisation. The INTO also raised concerns about large class sizes and what it called “unfettered work intensification”. The union argues that teachers are being asked to carry out increasing amounts of work without a satisfactory resolution to wider staffing and workload concerns.
What will the INTO work-to-rule involve?
A work-to-rule means employees follow their formal contractual duties and hours, while declining additional tasks or hours that fall outside those obligations. From October 5th, INTO members plan to stop working beyond their contracted daily teaching hours.
Members will also withdraw co-operation with additional hours, including measures introduced under the Croke Park Agreement. The practical effect may vary between schools depending on existing arrangements, staffing and the work normally undertaken outside contracted teaching time.
The union has said it will notify school management authorities and the Department of Education about the start date and its initial programme of action. Schools and families may therefore receive further details as local arrangements are clarified.
Possible escalation in October
The INTO’s mandate extends beyond the initial work-to-rule. Its members backed a campaign that could include strike action, and the union’s executive is due to meet again in the coming weeks to consider whether escalation is necessary from mid-October.
INTO members are also expected to join fellow public-sector workers in a proposed nationwide strike on Wednesday, October 14th. The leaderships of Fórsa, Siptu, and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation have also secured the mandates required for industrial action.
That creates the possibility of coordinated disruption across several areas of Ireland’s public services. However, the precise arrangements, including any notice requirements and the effect on schools, will depend on decisions taken by the unions and subsequent communications from employers and public authorities.
- The INTO will notify school management authorities and the Department of Education.
- The work-to-rule is due to start on October 5th.
- Teachers are expected to participate in the proposed public-sector strike on October 14th.
- The INTO executive will review the dispute and consider escalation from mid-October.
- Schools and parents should monitor official updates for details affecting individual services.
What this means for schools and families
The immediate impact is likely to be most visible in work carried out outside teachers’ contracted hours. The union’s action does not, based on the announced plan, amount to a full withdrawal from teaching from October 5th. Instead, it is intended to apply pressure by limiting additional work and participation in extra hours.
Parents and guardians should avoid assuming that every school will be affected in exactly the same way. The consequences may depend on local staffing, school activities and the additional duties previously undertaken by teachers. Any closures, timetable changes or other operational decisions should be confirmed directly by schools or through official Department of Education communications.
Frequently asked questions
When does the INTO work-to-rule begin?
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation says the work-to-rule will begin on October 5th.
Which teachers are affected?
The action applies to INTO members working in primary and special schools in the State.
Did members support strike action?
Members backed a campaign of industrial action up to and including strike action. The union’s executive will decide whether to escalate after reviewing developments in the dispute.
How strong was the ballot result?
Turnout was 57.5 per cent, and 95.5 per cent of participating members voted in favour of industrial action.
Why does the dispute matter?
The dispute combines concerns about public-service pay, household costs, class sizes and workload. It could also become part of a wider national campaign involving several large public-sector unions.
Conclusion
This Breaking News Ireland development marks a significant escalation in the dispute between the INTO and the Government over public-service pay and working conditions. Teachers are due to begin work-to-rule action on October 5th, while a wider public-sector strike is proposed for October 14th. The key date for further Ireland News updates will be the INTO executive’s review in the coming weeks, when members’ campaign could be maintained, expanded or moved closer to strike action.
