From post to pixels: are easier ballots set to drive more school strikes?

Industrial action has already been on the rise, and the Government’s recent reforms are steadily making it easier in practice for trade unions to organise lawful strikes.

A key upcoming change is the introduction of electronic and hybrid balloting for industrial action. Moving away from a postal‑only system is a logical modernisation, likely to increase accessibility and—critically—voter turnout.

For employers, a key implication is that where turnout improves, unions are more likely to secure a valid mandate. That in turn increases the likelihood of industrial action, even if underlying levels of support remain unchanged.

This is particularly relevant in the state‑funded education sector, where turnout has often been a key factor in ballot outcomes. With unions already signalling potential ballots over pay, more accessible voting methods could play an important role in how those disputes unfold.

The shift is therefore less about changing views, and more about making it easier for those views to translate into action.