The coordinated work-to-rule campaign involves nurses, special needs assistants, and Department of Social Protection staff. While immediate day-to-day disruptions for the general public are expected to be relatively minor at this initial stage, workplaces facing existing staff shortages may experience more visible administrative bottlenecks.
Core Responsibilities and Union Instructions
Under the directive, participating union members have been instructed to fulfill their contractual obligations while strictly avoiding unscheduled cover for colleagues, overtime, or participation in training.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation stated that its members will focus exclusively on core responsibilities during rostered shifts. According to the union, nursing staff will perform only duties necessary for safe patient care, decline unpaid hours, skip non-clinical meetings, and withhold cooperation from audits or reporting functions not directly tied to immediate patient care.
Fórsa, the largest public service union in the State, instructed its special needs assistant members to carry out routine duties without taking on extra tasks from Wednesday. The union also advised members that they are legally entitled to withdraw services from voluntary initiatives such as local breakfast clubs.
Pay Disparities and Breakdown in Talks
The industrial action follows the expiration of the previous public sector pay deal at the end of June. Unions contend that any replacement arrangement must address an estimated five per cent drop in real earnings since 2020.
Preliminary talks broke down after unions sought formal undertakings addressing the erosion of real wages. Kevin Figgis, Siptu’s lead health division official, stated that members across 30 hospitals are participating because the Government failed to provide a credible negotiation forum reflecting economic pressures on workers and their families.
While the Government has consistently maintained its willingness to resume discussions, it insists that meetings proceed without preconditions.
Escalation Timeline and School Impacts
Further union participation is scheduled to roll out over the coming days. The Irish National Teachers Organisation and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland are set to join the action on Monday, while the Teachers Union of Ireland awaits ballot results.
Unions have scheduled a one-day public service strike for October 14th. Industry analysts expect that if the dispute remains unresolved by that date, participation will be near-universal, forcing the closure of almost all primary and secondary schools across the country.