Ireland - Public sector unions prepare strike action - August 31, 2026

The public sector faces the prospect of widespread strikes after SIPTU union announced that 97% of its roughly 75,000 public-sector members who voted had backed industrial action. Deputy General Secretary said the result reflected "deep and utter frustration" at the Government’s failure to bring forward serious pay proposals. Unite and the Prison Officers Association had already voted for action, Fórsa — representing 100,000 workers — was due to announce its own ballot result days later, and the INMO and ASTI were preparing further ballots covering roughly 60,000 more workers. Unions noted that under the expired agreement, public servants received 9.25% over 2.5 years, but subsequent 1% increases had since been eroded by inflation, leaving the pay dispute on course to escalate through the autumn.

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