Major Irish public sector trade unions have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, scheduled to begin as early as 30 September 2026, following an impasse in negotiations toward a new national public service pay agreement.

Members of Fórsa, the country's largest public service union, voted 96% in favour of industrial action up to and including strike action, on a 72% turnout among its membership across health, education, local government, and civil service sectors. The vote follows a similar ballot by SIPTU, where 97% of participating members backed strike action citing frustration over the Government's delay in putting forward formal wage proposals.

The previous multi-year public service agreement expired at the end of June 2026. Union representatives have stated that exploratory talks during the summer failed to yield adequate assurances on addressing cost-of-living pressures and local bargaining commitments. Fórsa General Secretary Kevin Callinan indicated that initial actions could include work-to-rule measures and non-cooperation with overtime, with the potential to escalate to full strike action.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has maintained that the Government remains willing to negotiate a successor agreement, though he cautioned that any agreement must operate within sustainable fiscal parameters. Meanwhile, opposition politicians, including representatives from Sinn Féin and the Labour Party, have urged the Government to enter structured, meaningful negotiations immediately to prevent widespread disruption to essential public services.