Unite warns of 'winter of strikes' in public sector over pay dispute

Public sector workers in Ireland are poised for a "winter of strikes" as major trade unions report overwhelming support for industrial action over pay. The Unite trade union announced that its members have voted in favor of action if the government fails to present a "meaningful offer."

Unite stated it will now consult with its shop stewards to determine the specifics of any industrial action. "If the government wants to avoid a winter of strikes, it must stop hiding its head in the sand, come to the table and make public sector workers a meaningful offer which ensures that workers' pay packets, at the very least, keep pace with spiralling inflation," said Unite’s deputy regional secretary Tom Fitzgerald.

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If the government wants to avoid a winter of strikes, it must stop hiding its head in the sand, come to the table and make public sector workers a meaningful offer which ensures that workers' pay packets, at the very least, keep pace with spiralling inflation.

The union's warning comes as similar ballots for industrial action are being announced by other public sector unions, including Fórsa, SIPTU, and the INMO. The Prison Officers Association also recently announced its members have backed industrial action over the same issue.

The previous public sector pay deal expired on June 30, and formal talks on a successor agreement have not yet begun. The last agreement provided for pay increases of up to 10.25% over two and a half years. The government, through Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers and a spokesperson for the Department of Public Expenditure, has stated that the threat of industrial action is unnecessary and that they are available for engagement with unions to reach an agreement.

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It is only through engagement that agreement can be reached.