The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has convened an exceptional meeting of its Executive Committee on Friday, 10 July, to consider the union's response to the continuing absence of progress towards a successor public service pay agreement.
The meeting follows a decision of the ICTU Public Services Committee, representing public service unions across Ireland, to ask affiliated unions to convene their national executives and consider arrangements for ballots for industrial action following the expiry of the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026 on 30 June.
Legal advice obtained by the Public Services Committee has confirmed that, with the expiry of the agreement, a trade dispute may now be deemed to exist and that the dispute resolution procedures contained within the previous agreement no longer apply to these matters.
The Executive Committee will therefore consider the implications for IFUT and determine what preparatory steps, if any, the union should now take.
Should the Executive Committee decide to proceed, members may be asked to participate in a ballot seeking a mandate for industrial action, up to and including strike action, in pursuit of:
- securing an acceptable pay settlement covering the remainder of 2026 and any successor public service agreement;
- ensuring the completion and implementation of outstanding claims arising under the Local Bargaining provisions of the previous agreement; and
- resisting the unilateral imposition of changes to work practices, organisational structures or terms and conditions without the agreement of the union.
While these issues affect the entire public service, they arise against a backdrop of particular concern within Ireland's higher education sector.
For too long, university staff have experienced the combined effects of rising workloads, chronic underfunding, increasing student numbers and a continuing failure to address staffing shortages. At the same time, IFUT has repeatedly highlighted the lack of meaningful engagement with the academic profession on many of the strategic decisions shaping the future of higher education.
The expiry of the current pay agreement presents an important opportunity not only to address pay but also to reinforce the principle that meaningful change within our universities must be achieved through genuine dialogue and collective bargaining.
General Secretary Frank Jones said:
"Our Executive Committee has an important responsibility to consider the position facing our members. While IFUT has always sought to resolve issues through constructive engagement, meaningful engagement requires commitment from all parties. The Executive Committee will carefully consider the options now available to the union and determine the most appropriate course of action in the interests of our members."
No decision has yet been taken to conduct a ballot or to undertake industrial action.
Any such decision will be made by the Executive Committee in accordance with the union's rules, and members will be kept fully informed of any developments in the coming days and weeks.