Teachers’ action to hit school activities from September 28 as workload dispute escalates

Teachers across Northern Ireland are set to begin action short of strike from Monday, September 28, with restrictions potentially affecting extra-curricular activities, meetings, cover arrangements and communications outside teachers’ allocated working time.

The escalation comes after months of negotiations over teacher and school leader workload, with unions arguing that stronger guarantees are needed to turn recommendations from an independent workload review into meaningful change in schools.

Management Side of the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee (TNC), however, says agreement in principle has already been reached on eight of 11 issues raised by unions and has described the decision to proceed with industrial action as “deeply disappointing”.

Management Side of the Teachers’ Negotiating Committee comprises representatives from the Education Authority, the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), the Governing Bodies Association (GBA), Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE), Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta (CnaG) and the Department of Education.

What the action could mean for schools

Detailed instructions published by the Ulster Teachers’ Union (UTU) confirm its action short of strike will begin at 00:01 on September 28 and is designed to stop members providing unpaid “goodwill” labour where work should instead be planned, resourced or allocated appropriate time.

Among the measures, UTU members are instructed not to respond to emails, telephone calls or online learning messages outside Directed Time, while participation in extra-curricular activities remains voluntary and members are instructed to refuse direction to organise, supervise or participate in such activities outside their contractual duties.

The instructions also limit members to one formal school meeting or parental engagement event, lasting no more than one hour, outside the normal pupil teaching day per term. Teachers are told not to undertake cover beyond contractual requirements or during periods not specifically identified for cover on their timetable.

Protected Planning, Preparation and Assessment time is also targeted, with members instructed to refuse meetings, supervision, cover, training or administrative duties during PPA time. Maximum teaching hours, including cover, are set at 25 hours per week in primary and special schools and 23.5 hours in post-primary schools, pro rata for part-time staff.

Union action follows workload ballots

The dispute centres on the implementation of recommendations from the Independent Review of Teacher Workload, which reported in November 2025 and produced 27 recommendations. Education Minister Paul Givan subsequently published a Teacher Workload Action Plan on April 28 this year.

Teachers were balloted during the summer after unions raised concerns about how the recommendations would be implemented. The UTU reported 71% support for strike action and 95% for action short of strike, while other teaching unions also returned mandates for industrial action.

The five main teaching unions represented through the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC) are the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), NASUWT, National Education Union (NEU) and Ulster Teachers’ Union.

Management says agreement was close

In a statement issued as the dispute escalated, TNC Management Side said it had long recognised the pressures facing teachers and school leaders and pointed to negotiations held with NITC through conciliation at the Labour Relations Agency.

According to Management Side, unions had raised concerns about 11 of the 27 actions contained in the Minister’s workload plan, with agreement in principle subsequently reached on eight. It said discussions had moved to three remaining areas and to how implementation of the wider plan could be assured.

Management Side said it had requested a further four weeks to complete that work but that NITC had declined the request. It warned that action short of strike could disrupt teaching and learning, extra-curricular activities and pupils’ wider school experience.

A spokesperson for TNC Management Side said:

“It is extremely disappointing that the NITC unions have chosen to proceed with industrial action short of strike before the LRA conciliation process has concluded, particularly when an agreed position in principle had been reached on 8 of the 11 issues raised by NITC.

“Throughout the summer, we engaged constructively and in good faith with the teaching unions and reached an agreed position in principle on practical solutions that will reduce unnecessary workload, provide greater support for teachers and school leaders, and enable teachers to focus on delivering high-quality teaching and learning for children and young people.

“We are also disappointed that further demands were introduced at a late stage in the process. Management Side consisting of DE, employing authorities and sectoral bodies have a collective responsibility to ensure that any new measures are workable, sustainable and free from unintended consequences. This includes carefully considering the impact of proposed changes on school leaders and the wider operation of schools.

“Unfortunately, the NITC was unwilling to provide sufficient time to refine the detail associated with the remaining three issues and to develop a robust and effective implementation plan before initiating Action Short of Strike, a step we believe is unnecessary given the significant progress that has been made.

“Our primary concern remains the wellbeing and educational experience of children and young people. We are deeply concerned about the impact that industrial action may have on schools, pupils and families. Despite today’s decision, we remain committed to securing an agreed resolution that delivers meaningful and sustainable reductions in teacher and school leader workload.

“We therefore urge the teaching unions to reconsider their position, suspend industrial action and continue to engage in negotiations which are solely focused on resolving the detail associated with the three remaining areas of concern and to develop a robust and effective implementation plan.”

Education Minister urges unions to reconsider action

Education Minister Paul Givan has expressed disappointment at the decision to begin action short of strike on September 28, urging teaching unions to continue negotiations with employers and reconsider the move.

Speaking following the announcement from the Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC), Mr Givan said:

“I am disappointed by today’s announcement, particularly given the constructive discussions that took place during July and August and the meaningful progress that was made across the majority of the issues under discussion.

“While further work is required on a small number of issues, I believe there remains scope to reach a negotiated agreement. My Department remains committed to the process and stands ready to continue discussions aimed at finding a way forward.

“I recognise the pressures facing teachers and the wider education workforce, and my Department has been working to deliver practical measures to support them. My priority remains securing the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

“I hope all parties will continue to engage constructively to build on the progress already made, with the aim of reaching agreement and minimising any potential impact on schools and pupils.”

Safeguarding remains unaffected

While the action will place significant limits on some duties, UTU’s instructions make clear that statutory, safeguarding and child-protection requirements remain unaffected.

Members are also instructed to continue engaging professionally with Education and Training Inspectorate inspections while refusing additional workload generated by an inspection beyond their normal professional duties.

For parents and pupils, the immediate impact is likely to vary between schools depending on staffing, union membership and how activities are organised. Extra-curricular provision is one area where disruption may become particularly visible because participation remains voluntary under the UTU instructions.

Management Side says it remains willing to engage with the teaching unions in an effort to secure an agreement and bring industrial action to an end. With the action due to begin on September 28, the remaining window for an agreement before schools experience its effects is now one week.