Public sector strike called off

Unions consider new pay agreement

A planned 24-hour public sector strike planned for tomorrow (Thursda, November 12) has been suspended after trade unions and Government representatives reached agreement on a draft pay deal in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The proposed settlement will provide public service workers with pay increases totalling 10.75% over two years and nine months, with the agreement due to run until March 2029.

Negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), chaired by its chief Kevin Foley, concluded at approximately 3.30am following several days of intensive discussions.

In the aftermath, the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) recommended that affiliated unions suspend all planned industrial action.

This includes Thursday's proposed strike as well as ongoing work-to-rules across parts of the public service.

The suspension is expected to give individual unions time to examine the draft proposals, consult their representatives and organise ballots to allow members to decide whether to accept the agreement.

The breakthrough follows a prolonged dispute over the Government's original pay proposal, which offered increases of 7.75% over two-and-a-half years. That offer had been rejected by union representatives, who argued that a more substantial settlement was needed.

The Government subsequently improved its proposal, with the revised package becoming the central focus of negotiations over the weekend and into Tuesday night.

Union representatives had raised concerns about the length of the proposed agreement, particularly the implications of committing to a deal lasting almost three years. They had also sought greater clarity around the financial package and the non-pay commitments included in the proposals.

The cost of the proposed agreement is expected to run into billions of euro. Earlier this year, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers estimated that every 1% increase in public sector pay would cost approximately €437 million, taking account of related pay and pension costs.

The suspension of the strike prevents the widespread disruption that had been anticipated across public services on Thursday.

Eight rallies had been planned around the country, including a major demonstration in Dublin between 12pm and 2pm. The capital was already preparing for significant traffic restrictions and road closures due to a gathering of international leaders as part of Ireland's EU Presidency.

The draft agreement must now go through the respective union structures, with members ultimately having their say through ballots. The outcome of those will determine whether the proposed settlement is accepted and provides a lasting resolution to the public sector pay negotiations.