Primary school teachers to begin campaign of industrial action, up to and including strike

John Boyle: 'Thousands of teachers and their families are unable to cope with the cost of food, travel, energy, fuel, mortgages and rent. They have been driven to take industrial action.' File picture: Moya Nolan

Primary school teachers are to begin a campaign of industrial action next month, up to and including strike, beginning with work to rule.  

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) announced on Friday that from October 5, its more than 48,000 members in primary and special schools would not work beyond their contracted daily teaching hours as part of the work to rule.

Its members will also withdraw co-operation with additional hours, including those introduced under the Croke Park Agreement.

The union’s members also plan to join with public sector workers in the proposed countrywide strike on Wednesday, October 14.  

The union said it would be notifying school managerial authorities and the Department of Education of its commencement date for work to rule, and its initial plan for industrial action up to and including strike action.

Its executive will meet again in the coming weeks to consider further escalation from mid-October.

"This result is an emphatic mandate from teachers in primary and special schools who are struggling to make ends meet," said John Boyle, INTO general secretary. 

"The increasing frustration of our members relates 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. They have been driven to take industrial action," he added. 

They are rightly enraged by the Government’s failure to honour in full the previous public service agreement or to engage meaningfully with our union on the other pressing issues affecting them and the children they teach.

The INTO said a "notable" turnout of 57.5% of INTO members and the result, 99.5% of those who voted being in support of action, indicated "how angry teachers are at the continued disregard shown to them by Government". 

INTO president Brendan Horan said: “This clear and decisive result reflects the increasing exasperation and seething anger among our members at the Government’s failure to present workers’ representatives with serious proposals on pay. Their decision to ignore their own workforce is a political choice that cannot be tolerated any longer.

"In that last year, Government found at least €1.3bn 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.”