Running a parents' association during strikes and work-to-rule
What changes for a primary school parents' association when teachers or SNAs are on strike or work-to-rule, and how to keep events, meetings and messages on track.
Updated 13 October 2026
When teachers or special needs assistants take industrial action, the parents' association isn't part of the dispute, but a lot of what you run depends on the school day around it. Here's how to keep things going without adding to the pressure on anyone.
Strike days
- Don't plan anything on a strike day. Most schools close, and clubs and events on school grounds are usually off too.
- Add the strike days to your committee calendar so nobody books a meeting or a cake sale then. See the current dates.
- If a strike is called off at short notice, wait for the school's own message before moving anything back.
Work-to-rule
- Before and after school. Teachers aren't supervising outside school hours, and school insurers have advised limiting access to the grounds outside core hours where there's no other cover. Ask the principal before planning anything on the premises before or after school.
- Meetings with teachers. Teachers aren't attending meetings outside school hours, so a joint meeting with staff may need to move into the school day or wait.
- SNAs. SNAs on work-to-rule won't help with clubs, tours or open days. Don't count on them for events, and don't ask them to do it as a favour.
- Your own meetings. Committee meetings and the AGM aren't affected, but meet off the premises if the school can't open in the evening.
What to say to parents
- Stick to facts: dates, what's open and what isn't, and where to check. Link to the school's notices and to the strikes page.
- Keep the association neutral. Parents, teachers and SNAs will have different views, and everyone still has to work together afterwards.
- Don't share union or Department statements on the association's channels. Point people to the source instead.
- Be kind to staff. Whatever people think of the dispute, the teachers and SNAs in your school will be back in the classroom the next day.
Fundraisers and money
- Move events that need school grounds after hours to a weekend or a community venue, or pause them until the action ends.
- Readathons and other at-home fundraisers carry on as normal, because children log their progress at home.
On primaryschool.ie your committee calendar can add strike days in one click, and every member sees them. See how it works.
Sources
- INTO: work-to-rule directive
- Fórsa: education industrial action FAQs
- The Irish Times: public service work-to-rule to affect pupils
Rules and rates change. Check the official source before you rely on a detail, and tell us at [email protected] if something's out of date.