The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has voted in favour of work-to-rule industrial action to obtain what it calls a  “credible pay settlement” from the Government. 

According to the INTO over 48,000 of its members are set to partake in industrial action due to continuous public sector pay conflicts. 

The work-to-rule action will begin on October 5 said the teacher’s union. This will result in primary and special needs educators refusing to work beyond their contracted daily teaching hours.  

Assistant general secretary of INTO, Ciarán Gallagher, told TheCity that a “massive mandate of 95.5% of members voted in favour of action in our ballot with a 57.5% voting turnout of approximately 28,000 members”.

Gallagher told TheCity that a nationwide one-day strike will also take place on October 14, where it is understood that the unions members will join public sector workers in protest. They are calling for the Government to deliver public sector pay agreements containing tangible pay increases. 

The dispute arose ensuing the Governments’ refusal to deliver pay certainty for the second half of 2026 following their failure to honour the previous public service pay agreement from the first half of the year. 

Gallagher told TheCity that the INTO is “rightfully enraged” as the Governments “decision to ignore their own workforce is a political choice that cannot be tolerated any longer”.

Gallagher stated that members of the union have been “driven to take industrial action” as most members are “struggling to make ends meet.” “There is increasing frustration relating to the uncertainty surrounding salaries, particularly amid a cost-of-living crisis. Thousands of teachers and their families are unable to cope with the cost of food, travel, energy, fuel, mortgages, and rent,” he said.  

When asked about the strike’s immediate impacts on daily school operations, Gallagher said that “any negative impact of these measures on schools will be solely the fault of a government who has forced us to act as they do not appreciate the efforts of teachers, or seemingly, any public servant for that matter”.

“The Government have continually prioritised tax breaks for big businesses ahead of workers. In the last year, they funded at least €1.3 billion for hospitality business owners, property developers and haulage companies, with no benefit to consumers or staff. Now all that appears to be available for workers is €200 in tax cuts for 2027.” 

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Abbie Shevlin, a primary school teacher at Bracken Educate Together in Balbriggan, County Dublin told TheCity that she hopes the issue is resolved before the strike day on October 14. “Strike days in schools can seriously impact children’s education and their families, so I’m hoping it doesn’t escalate to that.” 

“The job is getting less attractive by the day. The salary really hasn’t changed much to match the rate of inflation or cost of living, much like every job in Ireland at the minute.” 

Final-year primary teaching student at DCU and student teacher Shauna Lea said that she “stands with the action being taken” by the INTO and believes the union’s voice “bridges the gap between teachers and the government.” 

“They are not only standing up for the current educators, but they are also paving the way for us future teachers that will be entering the profession in coming years. I think it’s important that their concerns are being heard.”  

The union’s executives plan to gather in October to “consider escalation” if deemed necessary, said INTO general sectary John Boyle.