Rejected petition Build a stronger teacher union: fair pay, manageable workload, real support!

We call on Parliament to strengthen teacher unions, fund fair pay rises, reduce excessive workloads, and recognise unpaid marking and planning hours. Teachers’ free time is consumed by work with no compensation. Either raise pay or trial a four-day week.

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Teachers are overworked and underpaid with excessive workloads extending far beyond school hours. Marking, planning, and admin regularly consume evenings and weekends with no extra pay. Teacher unions must become stronger and refocus on protecting teachers pay, time and wellbeing. Parliament must fund fair pay rises, reduce unnecessary workload demands and recognise unpaid labour. If workloads cannot be reduced, teachers deserve higher pay or a four-day working week to protect work life balance.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.

We can only accept petitions about things the Government or Parliament are directly responsible for. Unions are private organisations, and decisions about what they should focus on are not things that the Government or Parliament are directly responsible for.

You may wish to start a new petition specifically about pay or working patterns of teachers

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 28 January 2026
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