Over 100,000 Fórsa members working across local and municipal authorities, health and welfare services, education, Government departments and State agencies will be taking part in a 24-hour work stoppage beginning at 00.00am tomorrow, Wednesday October 14.
General secretary Kevin Callinan said: “Across the country our members work in jobs that form the very fabric of our country.
“Tomorrow, instead of going to work as normal, they will withdraw their labour as part of a nationwide strike.
“In workplaces ranging from hospitals to libraries, as well as government departments, schools, cultural institutions, driver tester centres and more, our members will speak with a single voice.”
Referring to an exchange of letters with Minister Jack Chambers TD on Monday, Kevin Callinan said: “Yesterday’s eleventh-hour intervention brought nothing new.
“Government have had months to engage meaningfully and credibly, but instead of taking members’ concerns seriously, they have stuck with the same dismissive attitude.”
“Our members don’t take industrial action lightly.
“They are prepared to take the strongest stand they can, at great personal cost, to drive home to government how severe the cost-of-living crisis is.
“People are struggling with the fundamentals necessary for a decent life. Putting food on the table, heating their homes, trying to make ends meet.
“The workers who provide the essential public services we all rely on deserve better than that.
“By refusing to acknowledge the impact inflation is having on civil and public servants pay, Government is dismissing the very real struggles faced by its own workforce.”
“The CSO indicated last week that inflation is running at 4.1% and yet Government’s allocation in the 2027 budget of 1.2 billion for public service pay, would at the very best allow for a 2.5% increase for next year, when you consider that pensions and carryover costs from the last agreement would need to be included. That’s a pay cut in real terms.”
“There remains a roadmap out of this impasse: we have consistently called for an increase for the second half of this year; we need to be sure living standards will be protected for the duration of an agreement, and thirdly we need a measure that makes up the gap created by inflation of over 5% for the period between 2021 and 2025.”
“We have to ensure the value of pay increases is maintained.”
Addressing members, Kevin paid tribute to the immense organising efforts of local members and branches, saying “It is testament to the determination, energy and motivation of members that workers in over 7000 workplace locations will strike tomorrow.
“Standing together with colleagues from other public service unions, they will send a message that Government would be ill-advised to ignore.”