Teachers back industrial action including one-day strike that would close primary schools

Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action over the failure to deliver a new public service pay agreement.

The union’s central executive committee on Friday announced that its more than 48,000 members in the State would begin a work-to-rule from October 5th. This will see members in primary and special schools not working beyond their contracted daily teaching hours.

The union’s members will also join fellow public sector workers in the proposed nationwide strike on Wednesday October 14th.

In a statement on Friday the union said members in its 155 branches who voted had strongly endorsed a campaign of industrial action – up to and including strike action – to secure a “credible pay settlement for the second half of 2026 and beyond”.