Irish Government Offers 10.5% Pay Rise to Avert Strikes

The Government of Ireland has proposed a revised pay increase of 10.5%, or 11% cumulatively, to avert a nationwide 24-hour strike scheduled for Thursday, November 12. The offer, which runs until early 2029, includes higher increases of up to 17.8% for lower-earning employees and a 2026 back payment of €1,200 or 2%, whichever is higher. This proposal replaces a previously rejected offer of 6.75% plus 1% for local bargaining.

Negotiations facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission adjourned on Sunday, November 8, and resumed Monday. While Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris maintain the revised terms make an agreement possible, union leaders remain pessimistic. A primary point of contention is the implementation of local bargaining, with unions seeking 2% in local bargaining and protections against inflation.

If a breakthrough is not reached, approximately 300,000 workers will engage in a work stoppage and eight nationwide rallies, including a major demonstration in Dublin. The potential industrial action coincides with a high-stakes European Political Community meeting in Dublin, where roughly 50 world leaders are gathering as part of Ireland's EU presidency. The strike threatens widespread closures in schools and disruptions to health, social protection, and local government services.