Engagement with independent group to resume on pay row

Updated / Saturday, 7 Nov 2026 00:02

Trade unions and Government representatives will continue engagement today with an independent group in a bid to find a pathway to talks on the ongoing public sector pay dispute.

Meetings with a Government-appointed group chaired by Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Chair Kevin Foley were adjourned last night.

On Monday, unions announced plans for a 24-hour strike on Thursday 12 November.

Yesterday, Tánaiste Simon Harris said there is "a particularly important window available over the weekend" to resolve the ongoing dispute.

Unions have accused the Government of failing to make a credible offer on pay.

Talks at the WRC were adjourned last Friday night with unions saying that a significant impasse had been reached.

It is understood they rejected a Government offer of pay increases worth 7.75% over two and a half years.

General Secretary of Fórsa and Chair of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions' Public Services Committee Kevin Callinan said they are looking for a better deal than the last public sector pay agreement.

That was worth 10.25% over two and a half years. It expired at the end of June.

Earlier this week, unions announced details of Thursday's planned strike.

Unlike last month's work stoppage, workers will be encouraged to march in rallies rather than stage pickets outside their workplaces.

There will be eight demonstrations across the country from 12pm to 2pm, with the largest taking place in Dublin.

This will coincide with a major meeting of world leaders in the capital as part of Ireland's EU Presidency.

It is understood the Dublin rally may involve striking workers marching from O'Connell Street to Government Buildings but the logistics of this are still being worked out.

Extensive road closures and traffic restrictions will be in place because of the European Summit.

The other rallies will be held in Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Sligo, Tullamore and Letterkenny.

After next week's strike, unions said they will intensify the work-to-rule action that is already under way across the public sector and look at taking further industrial action.

Mr Callinan said future action may take the form of rolling strikes in individual sectors of the public service.

Delays in agreeing to a new public sector pay deal led to a 24-hour strike by more than 300,000 public sector workers last month.