Irish Public Sector Workers Begin Work-to-Rule Over Pay Dispute
Over 100,000 Irish public sector workers began work-to-rule actions on September 30, demanding a new pay deal to address cost-of-living pressures.
More than 100,000 public and civil servants in Ireland began work-to-rule industrial actions on September 30, 2026. The participants, including nurses, health workers, local authority employees, and civil servants, are demanding a new pay agreement following the expiration of a previous deal in June. Workers are currently refusing non-essential duties and additional unpaid hours, with members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation limiting their activity strictly to duties necessary for safe patient care.
Trade unions, including SIPTU and Fórsa, argue that the government has failed to provide a credible forum for negotiations or address cost-of-living pressures. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform countered these claims, stating it is unfair for the public to face disruption because unions are unwilling to engage constructively on a new agreement.
The dispute is expected to escalate. The Irish National Teachers Organisation and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland plan work-to-rule actions on Monday, while public sector-wide strikes are scheduled for October 14 and 21. Separately, over 300,000 public sector workers in France demonstrated on September 29 to demand higher wages and oppose a proposed indexation freeze in the 2027 budget.
