Irish government invites unions to emergency talks to head off public strike

The Irish government has invited trade unions to formal talks at the Workplace Relations Commission on Tuesday, as public expenditure minister Jack Chambers urged union leaders to postpone a planned nationwide strike set for Wednesday. The Irish Examiner reported that the planned action involves hundreds of thousands of public sector workers across the country. [1]

The strike action will involve nurses, doctors, teachers, and civil servants. The Irish Examiner reported that the industrial action is expected to cause widespread disruption to schools, hospitals, public services, and the schedule of the Dáil. [1]

Jack Chambers stated that he believes an agreement can be reached without delay if both sides enter an intensive process of engagement as soon as possible. He warned that the planned strike on Wednesday will cause great disruption to the country. [1]