Irish public sector strike closes schools and disrupts hospital services nationwide

A nationwide public service strike has begun across Ireland, causing widespread disruptions to schools, hospitals, local authorities, and government services, the Irish Examiner reported. The industrial action involves Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers and Kevin Callinan, the chair of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Public Services Committee. [1]

Trade unions warned public sector employees that working from home during the action would be treated as crossing picket lines, as FTMQ News reported earlier. Union representatives from Siptu noted that some education staff were asked to deliver classes online, while the Dáil cancelled its Wednesday sitting because opposition parties pledged not to cross picket lines. [4]

The industrial action follows an escalating pay dispute between trade unions and the Irish government, as FTMQ News reported earlier. Irish primary school teachers initially began work to rule action on October 5, 2026, leading up to the broader public sector strike. [3]

Around 93,000 teachers were expected to picket schools as part of the strike, as FTMQ News reported earlier. Approximately 400,000 public sector workers across Ireland were anticipated to participate in the overall industrial action. [3][4]