Northern Ireland Teachers' Unions Vote to Strike Over Workload as Minister Seeks Negotiations

Three of Northern Ireland's largest teaching unions have secured overwhelming support from their members for potential strike action, citing the Department of Education's failure to implement recommendations aimed at reducing excessive workload in schools. Education Minister Paul Givan has said he believes further negotiations can avoid industrial action, though unions remain sceptical without concrete progress.

Members of NASUWT, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), and the Ulster Teachers' Union (UTU) returned substantial majorities in favour of industrial action following ballots that ran from 10 June to 1 September 2026. The unions initiated the ballot process after the Department of Education did not deliver what they described as a credible implementation plan for the 27 recommendations contained in the Independent Review of Workload.

The Independent Review of Teacher Workload was published in December 2025 and addressed areas including directed time, curriculum, assessment, qualifications, pupil behaviour and special educational needs. The review panel was formally established on 1 May 2025 as part of the 2024/25 teachers' pay settlement, chaired by Paul Sweeney and including trade union nominee Larry Flanagan and management nominee Liam Perry.

Although a pay agreement for teachers was secured in 2025, union representatives have consistently emphasised that workload pressures represent an equally critical concern for the profession. The unions have indicated that industrial action could still be prevented if the Department makes decisive progress on addressing workload comprehensively.

What did the ballot results show?

NASUWT members demonstrated the strongest support, with 92.04% of the 54.89% who voted backing strike action, and 98.63% supporting action short of strike. INTO members voted 91% in favour of strike action and 99% in support of action short of strike. UTU members returned 71% support for strike action and 95% backing for action short of strike.

Matt Wrack, general secretary of NASUWT, stated that educators continue to raise serious concerns about

workload, bureaucracy, and the challenges facing the profession

. He emphasised that

this strength of feeling must now be recognised

by the minister and department, warning that failure to do so

will inevitably lead to robust industrial action

.

Maxine Murphy-Higgins, NASUWT national official for Northern Ireland, described members as

exhausted

and accused the department of

dragging their heels

. She elaborated:

Back in November 2025, the independent panel produced their report on workload, the NASUWT tried everything to get the recommendations in place in our schools at pace, but the department have dragged their heels and lacked the courage to take on the difficult issues with clear statements about the requirements places on teachers

. Speaking to a national broadcaster's radio programme, Murphy-Higgins stressed that

teachers need to see genuine workload reduction and not just promises

, and warned that

acknowledgement alone isn't enough

. She highlighted that the core issue relates to the time teachers are given to complete specific activities such as parent-teacher meetings or marking controlled assessments, and that

exhausted teachers can't continue carrying unsustainable workloads indefinitely

.

What are the unions demanding?

The unions are seeking urgent implementation of the workload review's 27 recommendations to reduce the administrative and teaching burdens placed on educators. Mark McTaggart, INTO Northern Secretary, said union members have

delivered a decisive mandate

to Education Minister Paul Givan, adding that

members remain steadfast in their view that workload concerns must be addressed and are prepared to engage in both strike action and action short of strike in pursuit of meaningful change

. He warned that

without tangible progress, significant industrial action is likely to follow

.

UTU General Secretary Jacquie White noted that the decision to ballot members followed

intensive talks over the summer period

between unions and employers. She stressed that although her union remains committed to negotiations, they

must see urgent resolution which leads to tangible change in schools and classrooms, and we must see such change delivered now

.

The Department of Education's action plan on workload has been criticised as falling short of what is needed. Earlier in 2026, headteachers had already declared a trade dispute with Stormont, citing the Department's acknowledgement of extreme financial constraints when discussing workload relief measures. Sean McNamee, principal of St Paul's Primary and Nursery School, said while there

seems to be some good ideas and suggestions

from the review, the

problem is around delivery and the time frames for delivery

. He noted that without clear timelines,

nothing changes

and that teachers and principals feel they

have to do more in the hours that are provided

to them, which is not

sustainable

or

achievable

. McNamee warned that

if something doesn't give, then principals' and teachers' health is going to suffer

.

What was the government's response?

In June, when the five main teaching unions announced their intention to ballot on strike action, Stormont's Education Minister Paul Givan said he was

genuinely disappointed

by the decision. Following the ballot results, Givan said he is

fully committed to reducing teacher and school leader workload

and stated that

further progress is possible through continued engagement

. He noted that the ballot was

initiated before the negotiations had commenced

and said he would

continue to work with the NITC (Northern Ireland Teachers' Council) and employers to find a way forward

.

The minister acknowledged that the panel's recommendations

have been taken forward and the employers along with my Department are committed to implementing them

, and claimed that

significant progress has been made through the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) conciliation process

. He stated that the department has

engaged in good faith, demonstrating a willingness to listen and respond

, and said officials would

need to consider how further engagement can be structured in a way that is meaningful and has a realistic prospect of reaching agreement

.

However, unions remain unconvinced by the government's assurances. Murphy-Higgins said the

concern is that, to date, there has been constructive ambiguity around workload changes and workload changes actually being delivered in schools

, and stressed that teachers want a

profession where teachers can focus on the teaching, rather than excess of bureaucracy

.

What happens next?

No date for strike action has yet been set. The ballot period closed in early September 2026, setting up the next decision point on whether strike action proceeds. The unions have made clear that industrial action could still be avoided if the Department takes decisive steps to ensure workload is fully and meaningfully addressed.

The outcome of these negotiations will be significant for Northern Ireland's education system, which has already experienced disruption from other public sector disputes. Earlier in 2026, hospital doctors voted to strike over pay, followed by consultants and specialist doctors beginning strike action and resident doctors striking over pay disputes, highlighting broader industrial relations tensions across Northern Ireland's public services.

The teachers' dispute also reflects wider concerns about workload in education. In Scotland, strike action planned in six council areas was called off after a workload agreement was reached between the EIS union, Scottish government, and Cosla, demonstrating that negotiated solutions are possible when both parties engage constructively.

Key Facts

• NASUWT members voted 92.04% in favour of strike action; INTO members 91%; UTU members 71%
• The Independent Review of Workload contained 27 recommendations published in December 2025
• Education Minister Paul Givan says further progress is possible through continued engagement with unions and employers
• No strike date has been set; unions say industrial action could still be avoided with decisive government action
• The dispute reflects broader public sector industrial action in Northern Ireland in 2026, including strikes by hospital doctors and medical specialists