October 17 framework sets Irish public-sector pay talks for October 19

Irish government and union representatives agreed a framework October 17 for formal public-sector pay negotiations to begin Monday, October 19. The Journal reported that talks at the Workplace Relations Commission would start with pay and cost-of-living claims after Wednesday’s nationwide strike.

The dispute extended into public cultural services. Before the October 14 stoppage, The Irish Times reported announced closures at the National Gallery, National Museum, National Library and many local libraries, alongside expected disruption across schools, healthcare and other public services.

The previous public-service agreement expired in June. Union leaders wanted pay addressed before other issues, while the government had rejected that condition and proposed discussing pay alongside other matters, The Irish Times reported October 13.

On October 16, SIPTU confirmed that unions had deferred the next strike, planned for October 21. Work-to-rule action would continue where operational as an independently chaired process sought a basis for formal negotiations.

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary Adrian Kane said more than 300,000 civil and public servants had taken part in that week’s action. He said workers needed a fair outcome and that government would have to rebuild confidence in industrial relations.

Saturday’s framework followed discussions led by WRC chair Kevin Foley with representatives of the unions and government. According to The Journal, the pay agenda includes union claims concerning cost-of-living effects from 2021 through 2025, the current year and any future agreement.

The framework establishes a route into talks. The terms of a new pay deal remain to be negotiated.

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