Irish public sector unions plan second strike for November 12

Unions representing public sector workers in Ireland are planning to stage a 24-hour strike on Thursday, November 12, according to reports from the Irish Examiner, thejournal.ie, and the Irish Times. The industrial action comes after pay talks with the government reached an impasse late on Friday night without a resolution. [1][2][3]

The Irish Examiner reported that the planned stoppage will coincide with the European Political Community event in Dublin, which is the largest event of Ireland's EU presidency. Hundreds of thousands of public sector employees previously took part in a nationwide strike in October that caused school closures, thejournal.ie reported. As FTMQ News reported earlier, public sector unions had previously threatened industrial action over the lack of a credible pay offer. [1][2][13][14]

The Irish Times reported that the 19 unions affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Public Services Committee decided on the action after stating the government has failed to present a credible offer on a new pay deal. Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan stated that an existing work-to-rule across the public and Civil Service will be intensified and previously agreed derogations will be reviewed, according to the Irish Times. [3]

The Irish Examiner, thejournal.ie, and the Irish Times all reported that public service unions will discuss further intensifying work-to-rule actions and taking additional industrial action beyond the November 12 date. The Irish Times added that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said public service unions are set to meet with the chair of the government-appointed steering group. [1][2][3]