Ireland: Over 300,000 public-sector workers to hold 24-hour strike on 14 October
A 24-hour strike on 14 October will hit schools, hospitals and public services amid a dispute over pay and inflation.
More than 300,000 public-sector workers across Ireland will stage a 24-hour strike on 14 October, in what unions describe as the largest industrial action in the country since the 2008 financial crisis. The stoppage is expected to cause major disruption to education, healthcare and public administration.
RTÉ reports that teachers, doctors, nurses, civil servants and other public employees will join the walkout. Most schools, colleges and universities are expected to remain closed, while hospitals will cancel a number of non-urgent appointments and interventions.
Wider economic impact
The strike is also set to affect the private sector: the Irish government warned that school closures will force many parents to miss work, further straining small and medium-sized businesses.
In its 2027 budget the government allocated €1.2 billion for public-sector pay, but unions say that the current increases are insufficient given inflation of 4.1 percent and an average pay rise in public services of 1.5 percent.
The last pay agreement expired in June, and unions are demanding a new multi-year deal to restore lost purchasing power. Jack Chambers, the Minister for Public Expenditure, called for urgent talks to avert the strike, but trade unions rejected the proposal, saying the government had not offered a concrete solution.
If no agreement is reached, unions have warned of a new wave of strikes planned for 21 October, which could further disrupt public services and the Irish economy.
Photo: press material from the event
