Strike action to cause widespread disruption to public services

It is expected that there will be significant and widespread disruption to many public sector services today (Wednesday) as public servants, at the time of going to press on Tuesday, were set to engage in large scale strikes in Athlone and the wider Midlands region.

Not since the financial crisis of 2009 has there been a strike of such significance as public sector workers unite in a dispute over pay after a collective agreement covering public sector workers expired.

The Public Service Agreement 2024–2026, a pay agreement covering public sector workers, elapsed in June and a new agreement has not yet been reached between the representing trade unions and the Government.

Funding of €1.2 billion was allocated in Budget 2027 for a new agreement, and in advance of today's strike action, the Government has said it "remains committed" to engaging in talks with all the representing unions.

Among the striking workers are nurses, teachers, special needs assistants (SNA), council workers, prison officers and dentists.

Trade unions representing public sector workers have confirmed that many workers are engaging in an all-out strike where workplaces will be closed.

A statement issued by the HSE Dublin and Midlands Health Region, incorporating the Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore and Mullingar, confirmed there would be an impact on healthcare services due to public sector work stoppages.

This includes routine hospital procedures, outpatient appointments, community based services, such as day services, clinics in primary care services and other scheduled care services. HSE administrative services will also be impacted by this work stoppage.

A spokesperson said patients whose appointments have been cancelled as a result of the work stoppages have been contacted with a rescheduled date.

"Emergency departments, ambulance services (curtailed service) and other critical, time-sensitive healthcare services, such as urgent cancer treatment and dialysis, will continue, while GPs, GP out of hours and pharmacists remain available in the community," the HSE spokesperson added.

A similar scenario is envisaged at Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe, a spokesperson for the HSE West and North West confirming the "cancellation of all non-urgent healthcare services across hospitals and community settings on Wednesday".

Nurses and midwives will take part in the strike, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has confirmed, while consultants and public and community health doctors will also be striking, as announced by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO).

Local primary school teachers, secondary school teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and lecturers will also take part in the strike with parents and students being informed of school closures today.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said the vast majority of their members are to engage in a full strike with no members working on Wednesday (today).

The INTO said a recent ballot of its members saw "overwhelming endorsement" for industrial action with a "99.5% ‘Yes’ vote approving action in what was the largest ballot of primary teachers ever undertaken in the history of the union".

Meanwhile, INTO President Brendan Horan stated that its members were "ready, willing and able" to participate in strike action.

"We are taking our first initial action to lay the path towards a fair pay negotiation with Government that will see teachers in primary and special schools paid a wage that means they and their families can live and work in Ireland.

“It is high time the Government recognises and respects the hard-working public service who are the backbone of how our essential public services are delivered in schools, hospitals and elsewhere across the island," Mr Horan added.

SNAs, who are mostly represented by trade union Fórsa, will also take part in the strike.

Locally, as well as the impact on health and education, the courts and council services will also be affected, with administrative staff across Government departments, state agencies and local authority workers participating in the work stoppage.

Public sector workers are also preparing for a further stoppage on Wednesday, October 21, should progress not be made on a new deal.