More than 100,000 public sector workers across Ireland have begun industrial action in a dispute over a new pay agreement.
The work-to-rule action involves workers across health, education, local authorities and the civil service, with unions expressing frustration over delays in reaching a successor to the previous public sector pay deal, which expired on 30 June.
Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) are among those taking part. The union said nurses and midwives working in the public health service will carry out only those duties required to ensure safe patient care during their rostered hours.
The INMO said its members will not undertake additional unpaid work or attend non-clinical meetings unless their participation is considered necessary for direct patient care.
Other workers involved include special needs assistants, civil servants, health employees and local authority staff represented by Fórsa, the country's largest public service union.
SIPTU members in the health and local authority sectors are also participating in the work-to-rule.
Further industrial action is expected over the coming days, with public sector unions preparing for two planned strike days on 14 and 21 October.
The unions have accused the Government of failing to put forward a meaningful proposal for a new public sector pay agreement. Formal negotiations on a successor deal have not yet begun.
The Department of Public Expenditure said unions and public service representative associations had chosen to proceed with industrial action rather than enter substantive negotiations.
A department spokesperson said: "It is deeply unfair on the general public for there to be significant disruption to their daily lives because unions are unwilling to sit down and engage constructively on a new agreement."
The department said officials remained available for discussions and called for talks to begin without further delay.
“Meaningful progress can only be achieved where both parties are open to constructive and sustained engagement, without preconditions on either side,” the spokesperson added.
The dispute is expected to continue into October, with unions maintaining pressure for negotiations on a new public sector pay agreement.
