Around 400,000 public service workers are expected to take part in a nationwide strike today as unions continue their dispute with the Government over pay.
The industrial action is set to cause widespread disruption, with schools closed, non-urgent healthcare appointments cancelled and administrative services at Government departments and local authorities affected.
The strike is the largest Ireland has seen in more than 17 years, according to unions, with workers across a wide range of public services taking part.
The dispute centres on the failure of the Government and unions to agree a new public sector pay deal since the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 expired in June.
Budget 2027 allocated €1.2 billion towards a new agreement, but unions want pay increases that outpace inflation, which is currently running at 4.1%.
Union sources have told The Journal that, although expectations vary between unions, the minimum increase they would accept is 5%. They have described the Government's budget offering as an “insult”.
Some workers began striking from midnight, including employees at Dublin Port and in Ballymun.
What has the Government said?
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said last night that pay could be the starting point for negotiations on a new agreement between the Government and unions.
Fórsa General Secretary Kevin Callinan welcomed the comments, saying they suggested the strike had been necessary. However, he also questioned whether the industrial action could have been avoided if the minister had engaged with unions earlier.
The Government has invited unions to talks, but union representatives have rejected the offer, arguing that no new proposals have been put forward to address their concerns.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Minister for Higher Education James Lawless was asked about unions seeking a commitment that pay would be addressed at the beginning of negotiations.
“In any set of negotiations, two sides go in. A number of issues are traversed. Progress is made on some, and then you move on to others, and then eventually you agree a final deal,” Lawless said.
“If the unions want it to be the first item on the agenda, that’s fine. There’s no issue with that whatsoever. However, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, is a simple principle of negotiation.”
He added that the Government ultimately had to act as “the guardians of the public purse” and “taxpayers’ money”.
Which public services are affected?
A wide range of public sector workers are taking part in the strike, including primary and secondary school teachers, special needs assistants, college lecturers, local authority staff and administrative workers across Government departments and State agencies.
Healthcare workers are also participating, including nurses and midwives represented by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, psychiatric nurses, HSE dentists and doctors represented by the Irish Medical Organisation.
National Ambulance Service workers represented by Siptu are among those taking industrial action.
However, not every public service will be affected in the same way, and some workers are not striking because their unions are not participating.
Emergency departments and other critical, time-sensitive healthcare services, including urgent cancer treatment and dialysis, are expected to continue operating. Ambulance services will run on a reduced basis, while GPs, out-of-hours GP services and pharmacies will remain available.
Members of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, which represents hospital consultants, are not taking part in the strike.
Siptu has said fire brigades will operate with a reduced service, while prison officers will hold pickets outside individual prisons. Essential prison operations are expected to continue.
Gardaí are not striking, although civilian employees of An Garda Síochána will picket outside Garda Headquarters.
Dublin Port is also expected to remain operational, despite pickets by Fórsa members employed by Revenue, the Department of Agriculture and the HSE. A port spokesperson said it “remains fully operational and contingency arrangements are in place to manage traffic and minimise disruption”.
The Department of Social Protection has confirmed that social welfare payments will not be affected.
An Post workers are not part of the strike, but the Communication Workers’ Union has advised its members in the technology, postal and telecommunications sectors not to cross picket lines.
A full nationwide list of strike locations is available on Siptu's official website.
