Public Sector Unions Consider Strike as Government Pay Talks Stall After Agreement Expires
Dublin: Public sector unions are preparing for possible industrial action after the government failed to begin negotiations on a new pay agreement following the expiry of the current public service pay deal this week.
The previous agreement, which delivered cumulative pay increases of up to 10.25% over two and a half years, ran from January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026. With no successor agreement yet in place, unions are demanding an interim pay increase covering the period from July to December 2026, arguing that rising inflation has eroded workers’ earnings.
Trade unions point out that inflation reached 3.6% in May, effectively wiping out the value of the 1% pay increases awarded earlier this year in February and June.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Public Services Committee, representing 19 affiliated unions, has begun consulting members on the dispute. A ballot on industrial action is expected to take place in the coming weeks if progress is not made.
Union leaders have accused the government of failing to present a clear and credible strategy on public sector pay and living standards. They argue that, without meaningful proposals, there is currently no basis for formal negotiations.
Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said the Government remains committed to reaching a new public sector pay agreement through dialogue and without industrial action. He stressed that negotiations should proceed without preconditions and called on unions to engage constructively in discussions.
Unions cite cost-of-living pressures
FORSA General Secretary Kevin Callinan, who also chairs the ICTU Public Services Committee, said the decision to ballot members reflects the seriousness of the challenges facing public servants.
He rejected claims that unions were imposing preconditions, stating that employees are already struggling with rising living costs and need certainty on pay before wider negotiations can move forward.
Callinan said discussions on a new agreement must also address issues including local bargaining, remote working, housing challenges and the impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace. Above all, he said, a credible approach to pay remains essential for any meaningful progress.
Sector-specific concerns
SIPTU General Secretary John King said protecting public services must form a central part of any new agreement.
INTO General Secretary John Boyle said teachers require a fair and sustainable pay framework that reflects ongoing cost-of-living pressures, which continue to affect recruitment and retention across the education sector.
Meanwhile, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said nurses and midwives need both fair pay and safe working conditions. She stressed that safe staffing levels must be a key element of any future agreement while also addressing the financial pressures facing healthcare workers.
Government urges continued dialogue
Responding to the unions’ stance, Minister Chambers said threats of strike action were unnecessary, insisting that the government remains willing to negotiate.
“The door remains open,” he said, adding that union representatives are welcome to resume discussions with departmental officials at any time.
A spokesperson for the Department of Public Expenditure also confirmed that the government is prepared to engage with the ICTU and other representative bodies to reach a new public sector pay agreement through negotiations.