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.
Members of NASUWT, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), and the Ulster Teachers' Union (UTU) returned substantial majorities in favour of industrial action following recent ballots. 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 recognisedby 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
exhaustedand 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.
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 mandateto 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 periodbetween 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.
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 disappointedby the decision. The Department of Education has stated that it would produce a detailed action plan in response to the workload review, though the timing and adequacy of such measures remain contested between the unions and the government.
What happens next?
No date for strike action has yet been set. The five-union industrial action ballot was scheduled to close 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 before that deadline.
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.
