A nationwide public sector strike scheduled for Thursday has been called off following an agreement reached between unions and government representatives on a proposed pay deal. This resolution came after intensive negotiations that concluded early this morning at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The agreement stipulates pay increases of 10.75% from July 1, 2026, to March 31, 2029, with a focus on benefiting lower-paid public servants, who will see increases of up to 18.3% over the agreement's duration, including a local bargaining provision.

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers expressed his approval of the proposed agreement, which is set to be reviewed by the national executives of the affiliate unions of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in the coming days. They will analyze the full terms before making a recommendation to their members, who will then vote on the deal. This agreement has effectively averted a planned 24-hour stoppage that would have impacted schools, health services, and government offices, as well as rallies across the country.S2

The strike, which would have coincided with the European Political Community summit in Dublin, was initially prompted by a dispute over public sector pay. Last month, over 300,000 workers participated in a nationwide strike, and ongoing work-to-rule actions had already caused significant service disruptions. Now, with the proposed agreement on the table, unions will seek member approval to finalize the deal and prevent further industrial action.S1