In massive numbers public sector workers voted for strike action on pay. They have had enough of a government that refuses to address the cost of living crisis. It refuses to even sit down and discuss pay increases before unions agree to the government agenda for more productivity.
Workers are falling behind while profits boom for energy and grocery companies. Across the board, living standards are falling in a country where the Government expects to run a surplus of €6.7bn this year and €9.5bn in 2027.
Between 2021 & 2025 public sector wages fell behind inflation by 5.5%. In 2026 workers got 2% when inflation is 3.9%. Inflation will be at least 3% next year. Workers need at least 10% just to catch up and stay ahead. The Government has provided €1.2 billion in the budget for pay increases. This is far from what is needed. There is more money there. The Government will have to be forced to use it to provide the inflation proofed pay increases workers need.
People Before Profit stands fully behind public sector workers and encourages all workers to get behind their struggle.
They provide essential services on which we all rely: During Covid the Government was telling us to clap for them.
Their pay was slashed during the financial crash: they have only recovered lost ground in recent years.
A win for them will be a win for all workers. It will set a bar for workers in the private sector and give them the confidence to fight.
DISRUPTIVE ACTION CAN WIN
The fuel protest showed that the government can be put under real pressure by disruptive action.
While the calling of one day strikes is a good start, to pile on the pressure action will need to be escalated. The prospect of an all-out strike that would close down the country would force the government to take the demands of the unions seriously. We must guard against any attempt to deescalate the action too early to allow for talks on the Government’s terms. This will be seen as weakness by a Government that has indicated that it wants to take the unions on.
The unions must hold out for inflation-proofed increases and automatic adjustments if inflation keeps going up.
Activists should be calling for rallies in every city to bring workers together and create real solidarity across the public sector. Regular open meetings should be held to give rank and file members a real say about the course of the dispute. The dispute can be used to revitalise our unions and create a new layer of activists.
What would we do differently?
We set this out last Friday at our launch of the People Before Profit 2027 Alternative Budget.
1. Increase public sector pay in 2027 by 10% for all those earning below €100,000
2. Abolish the USC for those under €100,000
3. Double index tax credit and bands to keep pace with inflation: they were not
increased in 2026
4. A Living Wage of €17 an hour
5. Price caps on food and energy
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