The Green Post Ireland
Dublin, 2 November 2026 — Irish public sector trade unions will meet on Monday to consider a nationwide strike on November 11 after negotiations with the Government over a new pay agreement ended without a deal.
The Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), representing 19 unions, will discuss further industrial action following the breakdown of talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Friday night.
The proposed strike would include a major demonstration in Dublin and rallies in regional locations.
Public Sector Pay Talks Reach Impasse
Negotiations between union representatives and Government officials were adjourned on October 30 after 10 days of discussions.
Unions said the two sides remained too far apart to produce an agreement they could recommend to members.
Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan, who chairs ICTU’s Public Services Committee, has accused the Government of failing to present a credible pay offer.
The unions are seeking pay increases to address the gap between earnings and inflation over the past five years, an additional increase for the second half of 2026, and protections against future inflation.
The previous public sector pay agreement expired on June 30.
November 11 Strike Could Disrupt Schools and Hospitals
More than 300,000 public sector employees participated in a nationwide strike on October 14.
The action forced school closures, the postponement of thousands of non-emergency hospital appointments and disruption to other public services.
A second strike on November 11 could again affect schools, hospitals, local authorities and government services.
Union leaders are expected to consider the proposed action at Monday’s meeting. No final decision on the November 11 strike had been announced in the reports available early Monday.
Independent Group Asked to Help Resolve Dispute
The WRC has asked a Government-appointed independent group to examine the issues preventing agreement.
The group is chaired by WRC Chair Kevin Foley and was originally established to help develop the framework for public sector pay negotiations.
It had previously indicated that it would assist if talks reached an impasse.
Union representatives are expected to engage with the group as efforts continue to resolve the outstanding pay issues.
Jack Chambers Says Government Remains Committed to Pay Deal
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers expressed disappointment that intensive negotiations had failed to produce an agreement.
Chambers thanked the WRC and those involved in the talks, saying the Government remained committed to a deal that was fair to public sector workers and affordable for the State.
The Government allocated €1.2 billion in Budget 2027 as a starting point for public sector pay negotiations.
