Nationwide public sector strike called off following agreement on 10.75% pay rise

An agreement has been reached between union negotiators and the Government, following a lengthy period of discussions.

The talks concluded at around 3.30 am on Wednesday morning, and this officially brought an end to the planned nationwide strike on Thursday.

The planned disruptions were set to coincide with the arrival of international leaders in Dublin for the EU Summit. All planned pickets, work-to-rules and walkouts have been paused while the package is presented to union members.

The proposed agreement will cover over 300,000 public sector workers across healthcare, local authorities, education and civil admin. The agreed pay increase is 10.75% across nearly three years; there will also be mechanisms to deliver up to 18.3% for lower-income staff.

The agreement is subject to formal Government sign-off, with balloting procedures to proceed immediately among relevant public sectors.

Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers said: “It's a balanced, fair and credible deal for public servants across the country which particularly prioritises the lower paid to help with the cost of living. It is also sustainable, affordable and within the fiscal parameters of the medium-term fiscal and structural plan agreed by Government.

“The agreement reinforces the commitment to ongoing reform and modernisation across the public service, supporting innovation, digital transformation and greater flexibility in how services are delivered.”

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris said: “What has been agreed, subject to Government approval and a ballot of trade union members, provides certainty to workers, will ensure our public servants are paid a decent wage for a decent day's work, that there are ongoing productivity gains in the public service, and that there will be industrial relations stability in Ireland."

Adrian Kane, SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, added: “The draft deal is unashamedly weighted towards the lower and the middle paid. If unions had not taken strike action last month, this would not have been on the table. Unfortunately, it took so long to reach a pay deal because the offer that the Government put on the table some weeks back was just not credible, but sensible arrangements have now been reached around AI, hybrid working, and an inflation review clause.”