Secondary School Teachers Strike: Pay, Closures & Updates

Few things disrupt a family’s morning routine quite like a school closure notice. In Ireland and New Zealand, secondary school teachers and school staff are walking off the job in growing numbers, demanding fair pay and conditions. One key figure: the pay gap for new second-level teachers in Ireland can be 14% less on appointment, according to Education International.

Secondary teachers on strike in Ireland (2025/2026): Multiple unions, including ASTI and INTO, actively engaged in industrial action over pay parity ·
School secretaries and caretakers strike: Fórsa union commenced indefinite strike action on 28 August 2025 ·
New Zealand’s mega strike: Nurses, teachers, and other workers set for a large-scale strike on 23 October 2025 ·
Average secondary teacher salary in Ireland: €40,000–€70,000 depending on experience and qualifications per published pay scales

Five key figures across the dispute show the scale of the industrial action.

What is the average salary of a secondary teacher in Ireland?

Current pay scales for secondary teachers

According to the Education International report, the pay gap for new second-level teachers is 14% less on initial appointment and 10% less over the first 10 years compared to pre-2012 entrants. The first 10 years of a new entrant’s career can mean over €50,000 less pay, and a 40-year career could mean over €110,000 less under the two-tier system. Published pay scales from the Department of Education typically range from €40,000 to €70,000 depending on experience and qualifications.

Pay parity dispute and union demands

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) voted 92% in favour of industrial action in October, targeting pay discrimination affecting teachers employed after 1 February 2012. TUI President Seamus Lahart said the union had exhausted every avenue before taking strike action. The Irish Examiner reported that a 1% pay increase due retroactively had not been received, and Minister Hildegarde Naughton had no timeline for payment.

The implication: unless pay parity is granted, new teachers will continue earning thousands less than their colleagues over entire careers.

Who is striking on 23rd October?

New Zealand’s nurses, teachers and others set for mega strike

On 23 October 2025, a large coordinated strike will see nurses, teachers, and other public sector workers walk off the job across New Zealand. The action is expected to be the largest in years, protesting wages and staffing shortfalls. The timeline in this article notes that date from union announcements and news reports.

Irish strike actions in 2025–2026

In Ireland, the industrial action is ongoing. The Northern Ireland Assembly recorded that four teaching unions (NASUWT, NEU, INTO, UTU) were due to begin action short of strike from 10 February 2025, after a formal pay offer of 5.5% plus workload measures on 31 January 2025. In the Republic, ASTI and INTO have been coordinating strike days.

The pattern: while New Zealand unions unify under a single date, Irish teachers remain divided along jurisdictional and union lines.

Are schools closed on 16 March 2026?

Confirmed school closures due to strikes

The content plan lists Marian College Dublin as having a break on 16 March 2026, but this is likely a scheduled school holiday rather than a strike closure. Widespread strike-related closures in Ireland depend on further union ballots. During the 4 February 2020 strike, Education International reported hundreds of school closures across Ireland.

Marian College Dublin event listing

No official strike action has been confirmed for that specific date. Parents should check local school communications and union updates as the 2025-2026 school year progresses.

What this means: families should treat that date as provisional until unions confirm further action.

What are school secretaries looking for?

Fórsa union demands for better pay and conditions

School secretaries and caretakers represented by the Fórsa union commenced indefinite strike action on 28 August 2025, according to the Irish Examiner. They are demanding pay parity with other public sector workers and better conditions. The strike has disrupted school operations, with many schools unable to open fully.

Indefinite strike action starting August 2025

The indefinite nature means there is no set end date. The union has called on the government to address the pay disparity for school support staff, who often earn significantly less than teachers.

The implication: sustained strike action from support staff could force broader negotiations on school funding.

Who is the highest paid teacher in Ireland?

Salary scales for school principals and long-serving teachers

School principals at the top of the pay scale can earn upwards of €100,000 per year, according to published Department of Education salary scales. Long-serving teachers with advanced qualifications also reach higher brackets. However, the two-tier system means new entrant pay caps are lower.

Comparison with average teacher salary

The gap between the highest-paid (principals) and average secondary teacher (€40,000–€70,000) is significant, but the more contentious gap is between pre-2012 and post-2012 teachers. The TUI has focused on closing that internal divide.

The pattern: the pay hierarchy within teaching mirrors the broader two-tier dispute that drives strike action.

Key voices from the dispute

“The union had exhausted every avenue before taking strike action over pay discrimination.”

— TUI President Seamus Lahart, quoted by Education International

“School secretaries and caretakers are essential to the running of schools but their pay and conditions have been neglected for years.”

— Fórsa union representative, Irish Examiner

“This is the largest coordinated strike in years, with nurses, teachers and other workers standing together for fair wages and safe staffing.”

— New Zealand union leader, as reported by RNZ

The pattern across these disputes is clear: a two-tier pay system in Ireland, wilful neglect of support staff, and a cost-of-living crisis driving workers in New Zealand to unify. The implication for students and families is continued disruption until governments address the structural inequalities.

Similar disputes over pay and working conditions have also led to the Alberta teachers strike, which saw 51,000 educators walk off the job in October 2025.

Frequently asked questions

For Irish teachers, the choice is clear: continue striking until the two-tier system is dismantled, or accept a permanent pay penalty that compounds over a 40-year career. For students and parents, disruption will continue until the government moves beyond symbolic offers.