Two prominent teaching unions in the United Kingdom have indicated the likelihood of strikes in 2026 as they confront government officials regarding pay and working conditions. The warnings come as tensions surrounding teacher remuneration and school funding have intensified, prompting discussions about industrial action.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), expressed concerns about the “real possibility of industrial difficulties” in the coming year. He emphasized that many teachers are struggling under a “burden of pressure” related to their working conditions and compensation.
Similarly, Matt Wrack, the general secretary of NASUWT, stated that discussions about potential strikes are “inevitable” during the union’s conference scheduled for April 2026. He highlighted the financial strain on school budgets, which he believes could exacerbate unrest among educators.
The prospect of renewed public sector strikes follows recent industrial actions by healthcare workers, including a five-day walkout by resident doctors in England, organized by the British Medical Association. Wrack noted that the mounting frustrations among teachers could mirror the discontent seen in other public sectors.
In an interview with The Independent, Whiteman articulated that the growing dissatisfaction regarding pay and work conditions could reach a critical point. “Whether that’s a walkout or other industrial action, I don’t know, but I think what will come to a head is the whole package of difficulties,” he said. He underscored that the issues at hand extend beyond salary, encompassing workload and the overall intensity of the job.
Although Whiteman acknowledges the government’s “huge ambition for education,” he criticized the lack of appropriate resources to support these goals. He affirmed that the warnings concerning potential industrial action are serious and not mere posturing. “They’ve carried that burden for so very long; I don’t think they’d be able to tolerate it for much more,” he stated.
Wrack mirrored these sentiments, asserting that without significant improvements in pay and conditions, discussions of strikes at NASUWT’s upcoming conference are unavoidable. He pointed out that the government had agreed to a 4 percent pay rise for the 2025-26 school year, as recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). However, he deemed this increase as “unhelpful,” considering that teachers’ real earnings have decreased over the past 15 years.
“The changes to pensions have worsened the overall package for teachers,” Wrack explained. He cautioned that the next few years may see low pay increases, potentially falling behind the government’s own inflation measures. Furthermore, he indicated that any future salary adjustments would likely come at the expense of already constrained school budgets, creating a “vicious cycle” for educational institutions.
In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Department for Education stated that the government is committed to enhancing the teaching profession. They noted that through their “Plan for Change,” teacher pay is set to rise by nearly 17 percent over the current parliamentary term, equating to a significant real terms increase over the next five years. The spokesperson emphasized that mainstream school funding will increase to almost £51 billion next year, aimed at ensuring that all students can succeed.
As the year unfolds, the potential for strikes looms large over the education sector, with unions preparing to advocate fiercely for their members. The coming months will reveal whether the government can address the pressing concerns of educators or if industrial action will become a reality in 2026.
