A public sector strike planned for Thursday in Ireland has been suspended after trade unions reached a draft pay deal with the Government.
The proposals, agreed following talks that concluded in the early hours of Wednesday, will deliver public sector pay increases of 10.75% over two years and nine months, in a deal running to March 2029. The planned industrial action would have taken place on the same day as the European Political Community (EPC) summit on Thursday.
Draft agreement reached
In a statement, the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions confirmed a draft agreement had been reached.
“The new agreement was negotiated following the expiration of the last public service pay agreement at the end of June,” the statement said. “It follows work-to-rule action across public services since 30th September, public service-wide strike action on Wednesday 14th October, and a planned public service strike for Thursday 12th November.”
“The Public Services Committee has recommended that unions suspend the strike action and other industrial action to allow affiliates to consider the document and arrange ballots.”
Pay terms of the deal
The deal includes a series of pay adjustments: 2% or a minimum payment of 1,200 euro from September 1 2026, whichever is greater; 1% from April 1 2027; 1% or a minimum payment of 600 euro from August 1 2027, whichever is greater; 1.5% or a minimum payment of 900 euro from November 1 2027, whichever is greater; 1% from March 1 2028; 1% or a minimum payment of 600 euro from June 1 2028, whichever is greater; 1% from October 1 2028; 1% from March 1 2029 as the second phase of “local bargaining”; and 1.25% or a minimum payment of 750 euro from March 2 2029, whichever is greater.
The final phase of “local bargaining” will be implemented during the lifetime of the successor agreement. The agreement ends on 31st March 2029. Trade unions will meet over the coming days to analyse the agreement ahead of an expected national ballot.
Minister welcomes deal
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers welcomed the pay deal.
“The Government has consistently sought to reach an agreement with public service unions and associations that achieves the correct balance between continued investment in the delivery of our public services and an approach to public service pay that is fair and affordable,” he said.
“The proposed agreement is fiscally sustainable and consistent with the Government’s medium term fiscal and expenditure plan, providing certainty for public servants as well as the Government and public service users over the period covered by the agreement.”
