Strike reflects workers’ frustrations at cost-of-living pressures and broken promises
Government must gain workers’ trust
As Unite members in the public sector prepare to take to the picket lines across the country tomorrow, the union said that the strike reflects workers’ frustration at cost-of-living pressures and the government’s failure to honour previous commitments. Unite also panned today’s government statement which the union said once again failed to address workers’ demands.
Minister’s eleventh-hour letter “written with eye to media rather than eye to workers”
Government inaction forcing workers onto picket lines
Unite, which represents public sector workers across Ireland, today held a meeting of the union’s National Dispute Committee to finalise plans for Wednesday’s national strike. The dispute committee comprises Unite shop stewards from across the public sector.
Unite public sector members in a range of workplaces – including local authority personnel, college lecturers, ambulance workers, hospital support staff and many more – will be among the hundreds of thousands of workers taking strike action.
Members are also preparing for a further stoppage on 21 October if the government does not make unions an inflation-beating pay offer. The public services committee of the ICTU, to which Unite is affiliated, is clear that this afternoon’s letter from minister Jack Chambers does not provide a basis for Wednesday’s action to be postponed.
Move highlights need for collective bargaining legislation
Unite, which represents workers throughout the economy, today (Wednesday) blasted the government’s decision to scrap plans for a statutory ‘living wage’ to replace the current national minimum wage. The introduction of a new ‘living wage’ equating to 60 per cent of median earnings was originally scheduled for 2026. The timeline was then pushed out to 2029. (See notes for editors regarding low pay definitions.)
Today, in a statement published on the Department of Enterprise website, the government abandoned its living wage timeline altogether.
Subsidising high prices no substitute for addressing costs at source
Government accused of ‘megaphone bargaining’ on public sector pay
Unite, which represents workers across the economy, said today (Tuesday) that Budget 2027 represents a giveaway to the wealthiest while workers run to stand still.
As workers face spiralling housing costs, Unite said that the government’s focus on subsidising high prices and incentivising private landlords – including shack-in-the-back landlords – is no substitute for a housing policy driven by public provision and focused on affordability.
The union also slammed the government’s decision to prioritise giveaways for the wealthy rather than measures such as a wealth tax which could help wean the public finances off transitory corporation taxes paid by a handful of multinationals.
Workers vote overwhelmingly to accept above inflation deal which provides paid breaks to all
Members of Unite employed at Pilgrim’s Enniskillen site have voted overwhelmingly to accept an improved pay offer and end their dispute. The workers have taken six weeks of strike action in pursuit of improved pay.
The deal will see all shop floor workers receive a four per cent pay increase and will mean all workers are fully paid for breaks, ending a two-tier arrangement where some shifts were fully compensated and others not.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “This is a clear win for our Pilgrims’ members. This deal was achieved through workers being prepared to take strike action. This victory again demonstrates the best way to raise pay and conditions is joining Unite and get your colleagues to join as well.”
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