IFUT Public Service Dispute Hub 2026

Eligible public service members are being asked to authorise industrial action, up to and including strike action, in pursuit of IFUT’s claims on pay, outstanding local bargaining commitments and protection against unilateral change.

The previous public service agreement has expired without a successor agreement, pay remains unresolved for the second half of 2026 and important commitments remain outstanding. A strong mandate gives IFUT the authority and leverage needed to pursue members’ claims effectively.

No. A Yes vote gives IFUT a mandate for industrial action, up to and including strike action. Any decision about the form or timing of action would be communicated separately and clearly to members. Members should continue working normally unless and until they receive a formal instruction from IFUT.

The result will be communicated to members. IFUT’s Executive Committee will consider the outcome and any developments in the wider public service campaign before deciding the next steps. No member will be expected to take action without a clear instruction from IFUT.

Use the “Vote now” button above and enter the unique voting code emailed to you by Mi-Voice. Voting closes at 12 noon on Tuesday, 22 September 2026.

First check your junk or spam folder for an email from elections@mi-voice.com. You can also use the “Send me my voting code” section on the voting page. Enter the email address IFUT holds for you and, if the details match, Mi-Voice will email your unique code.

For further technical assistance, contact support@mi-voice.com.

Yes. The ballot is administered independently by Mi-Voice. IFUT does not see how any individual member votes.

There are currently no talks taking place. Preliminary engagement in June did not convince union negotiators that living standards would be protected under the Government’s proposed approach to a new agreement.

Public service unions have consistently said that Government must begin with a credible approach to pay from 2026 onwards that properly addresses cost of living pressures. With no public service agreement in place, public service unions are now in dispute with Government as the employer of public service workers.

Talks must have a clear purpose from the outset, including a credible approach to protecting living standards through pay. Government has been unwilling to address pay and cost of living measures at the beginning of negotiations.

In previous negotiations, pay was generally dealt with only after lengthy discussions on reform and other matters. Unions have made clear that a different approach is required in 2026 and that workers need certainty.

The union position is that a general willingness to meet is not enough. Negotiations need a clear commitment to meaningfully address pay and protect living standards. Without that commitment, unions risk being drawn into prolonged talks without a credible route to resolving the dispute.

Only if it adequately addresses the cost of living first and satisfactorily deals with other priority matters, including privatisation and outsourcing, remote working and the impact of artificial intelligence.

Union analysis shows that public service pay has fallen significantly behind prices in recent years. Annual inflation was reported at 3.7 per cent in September 2026, while pay improvements delivered in 2026 amount to an average increase of approximately 1.5 per cent across the year.

Union analysis also considers inflation during the austerity and pay restoration years, rather than selecting a later starting point that excludes those losses.

The previous agreement included fixed monetary alternatives for some increases so that lower paid workers received whichever amount was greater. For example, the February 2026 increase was 1 per cent or €500, whichever was more beneficial.

This reflected a deliberate trade union achievement. Comparisons based on rates close to the minimum wage do not provide a complete picture, particularly when the national minimum wage has also increased.

Nineteen unions with members working in the public service participate in the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The two Defence Forces representative associations cannot legally engage in industrial action, but all affiliates support the campaign.

A strong mandate demonstrates that IFUT members are united behind the union’s claims. It strengthens IFUT’s voice within the wider public service campaign and increases the pressure on Government to enter meaningful negotiations and reach a fair agreement.