Unions Demand Higher Pay, Threaten Action Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis and Public Sector Deal Expiry
Trade unions are pushing for substantial pay raises and threatening industrial action as the public-sector pay deal for 400,000 workers ends in June. Citing inflation and cost-of-living pressures, union leaders demand comprehensive measures beyond just pay. Key sectors like paramedics and school staff are already poised for disputes, with broader unrest possible.
Trade unions are demanding significant pay increases and threatening industrial action as the current public-sector pay deal for 400,000 workers expires at the end of June. Union officials, including Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) general secretary Owen Reidy, Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan, and Connect assistant general secretary Brian Nolan, emphasize the need for a comprehensive package to address workers' concerns, citing rising inflation, fuel prices, and the failure to index tax bands in Budget 2026.
Following a Labour Employer Economic Forum meeting, Reidy expects clarity on government measures within four to six weeks. Unions note that quick relief for farmers and hauliers over fuel prices has emboldened calls for more militant action. Callinan, also chair of the Ictu public sector committee, states that future agreements must address broader issues like housing, public transport, and childcare, not just pay, warning that without a multi-annual deal, benefits like industrial peace and cost certainty will be lost.
Siptu general secretary John King and Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's Phil Ní Sheaghdha advocate for above-inflation pay increases. Siptu's national executive committee supports members taking industrial action if employers don't address pay erosion. Neil McGowan, Siptu manufacturing division organiser, notes recent pay deals average 4% with add-ons, slightly below Ictu's 4.6-7% target. The government's projected budget surplus increase from €5 billion to over €9 billion this year further strengthens union arguments.
Potential industrial unrest looms in the public sector, with paramedics and the National Ambulance Service already voting for a 24-hour strike on May 12th. School secretaries and caretakers are in ongoing Labour Court processes over pensions. Hybrid working policies, particularly at the Department of Social Protection, and rumored outsourcing at RTÉ are also sources of potential disputes.