"Today is a day for solidarity for workers across the economy" -SIPTU
Over 300,000 public sector workers across Ireland are taking part in strike action today; this includes doctors, nurses, teachers and civil servants.
This has had an effect on many services across the country, with hospital appointments cancelled, Met Éireann updates halted and driving test cancellations.
There has been widespread closure of schools, colleges and universities as major teachers' unions have joined with the likes of INMO (Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation) in the strike.
Unions have been calling on the Government to make commitments on pay increases; this follows the expiration of the last agreement in June.
Today, picket protests from staff have been spotted outside the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin Fire Brigade and certain roles at Áras an Uachtaráin.
At the moment, further strikes are planned for October 21.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Adrian Kane, said: “This mobilisation demonstrates the determination of our members to secure a better deal for workers struggling under a worsening cost of living crisis and a Government which is dismissive of their concerns.
“The €1.2 billion announced in the Budget for public sector pay claims is an offer of a pay increase of approximately 2.5% in 2027 once pension costs and previous commitments are included. With annual inflation currently running at 4.1%, this provides no credible starting point for talks aimed at protecting living standards.
“This cost of living crisis is the one struggle for workers in the public and private sectors. Suppression of public service pay provides a benchmark for employers to suppress wages in other sectors, while doing nothing to resolve a cost of living crisis driven by the housing crisis, energy and household costs.”
He added: “Today is a day for solidarity for workers across the economy struggling with a Government which fails to understand that the current circumstances of the vast majority of workers in this economy must be understood and addressed, or they will exercise their democratic right to withdraw their labour to ensure they are.”
Speaking outside Leinster House, Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald has urged the Taoiseach to intervene in the dispute.
She said: It beggars belief that they have known for months that they need to engage and negotiate a new pay agreement, and they have failed to do that.
"I think they have played a really terrible and disrespectful game of chicken with 300,000 workers that we all rely on.
"We rely on them to take care of us when we're sick. They educate our children. They run our services, and indeed, they run the building and the system behind us that we serve in here are elected representatives of the people, so I think you can feel the really strong sense of public support for all of the workers.”