Politics

‘Uncharted waters’: Public sector to consider strikes as pay deal expires

No date has been set for the resumption of public sector pay negotiations yet, with unions set to ballot for industrial action on January 11

Paschal Donohoe, minister for public expenditure. He said before Christmas that new items raised by the unions at a ‘late stage in the process’ had created issues that affected a speedy conclusion to the talks. Picture: Julien Behal Photography

Ireland could be facing strikes across the public sector by later this month as the existing public sector pay agreement has expired without a new deal in place.

Building Momentum, the 2021 public sector pay deal which was extended to the end of 2023, expired on Monday without a new deal in its place. It is the first time a public sector pay agreement has lapsed without a successor deal in decades.

Union sources said ...