Message from the general secretary
 

Wednesday 14th of October was a momentous day. That is down to you. Every picket shift, every chant, every extra effort has shown that civil and public servants have a voice and that voice was heard loud and clear.


The vast breadth of work undertaken by our members was clear in every town and city. In Dublin city centre there was practically a picket on every corner. Walking around Dublin on Wednesday you could barely go 20 yards without meeting Fórsa members on the picket. Everywhere you could hear cars beeping, whistles ringing and chants resonating through the air. It was the same across all cities and towns in the country. 


On the airwaves and online, members spoke movingly about their decision to strike. Local authorities were closed, schools fell silent, hospitals ran reduced rosters, state agencies stood shut, and the wheels of the civil service slowed to a stop. 


Starting at midnight in Dublin Port, members from over 7000 workplaces where Fórsa is active, began pickets, which ran throughout the day.


Standing together, with members from other public sector unions, we spoke as one sending the clearest message possible to Government: we are the backbone of this country, and we can’t be taken for granted.


There have only been three strikes like this in my working life and yesterday was by far and away the most coordinated and visible one. 


The vast breadth of work done by civil and public servants is often invisible, but on Wednesday it was visible for everyone to see. By withdrawing your labour, you made the impact and importance of your work impossible to ignore.


Support from the wider public boosted morale and resolve. It also clearly showed that they understand you are standing up for all people, because everyone relies on work you do, and everyone is impacted by the cost of living crisis, regardless of what sector they work in.


The officers of the Public Services Committee of ICTU met yesterday afternoon (Thursday) and reviewed developments to date. We remain committed to achieving the best deal for members, and as I have said, we are available for talks where commitments can be given that the impact of the cost-of-living on members pay is addressed from the outset. 


For now, the work to rule continues and planning for next Wednesday remains a priority. The national strike on the 21st of October will involve pickets being placed on workplaces across the country. This is likely to involve a rally for all those in Dublin and neighbouring counties. The details will be finalised over the weekend and notified on Monday.


To go on strike is to be part of organised, democratic people power. It’s a step that no one takes without thinking very seriously about the impact it will have. I know our members are proud of their work and that it wasn’t easy to stay away for a day, or to lose pay. So well done to each and every one of you, for being part of this action, for standing up for your pay, your colleagues and your community. We should all be proud of the positive, peaceful and powerful stance we took on Wednesday.


Stay strong, stay united,

 

Kevin Callinan,

General Secretary
Video "Keeping our heads above water": members speak out
by James Redmond
 

For many members standing on pickets this week was their first experience of industrial action. Watch workers speak about the rising cost of living, unaffordable housing, wages that aren't keeping pace with everyday expenses, and the growing difficulty of making ends meet. 

Watch video: “Stand Strong” | Voices From Ireland’s Day Of The Pickets

 

On Wednesday, thousands of picket lines appeared across the country, as public sector workers took part in a historic 24-hour strike to demand better pay and conditions. 


For many, it was their first experience of industrial action. Workers spoke about the rising cost of living, unaffordable housing, wages that aren't keeping pace with everyday expenses, and the growing difficulty of making ends meet. 


They also spoke about their pride in delivering vital public services, the pressures facing younger workers, and the importance of standing together to fight for a better deal. These are the voices of the workers who keep our public services running, explaining why they felt they had no choice but to strike.


Watch our video to hear Úna, Michelle, Joanne, Declan, Emer, Matthew, Michael and Dearbhla talk about why workers felt compelled to strike.
Camaraderie and solidarity: Electric atmosphere on nationwide pickets
by Hannah Deasy
 

At over 10,000 pickets across the country, trade union members young and old chanted in unison. Hear from our members as they describe the atmosphere and feeling on the picket lines, and check out our round up of local media coverage.  

At over 10,000 pickets across the country, trade union members young and old chanted in unison, on Wednesday 14th October. Hear from our members as they describe the atmosphere and feeling on the picket lines.   

 

Róisín Cronin of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown local government branch said the atmosphere was incredible throughout the day: “Our members really showed up. From the early shift outside County Hall in Dún Laoghaire at 8 am, right through the morning at Ballyogan and our Dundrum office, as well as at pickets outside the libraries across the county, through to our final shift where members continued to show up in large numbers, none of us had seen a day like it. It was an absolute privilege to be able to stand in solidarity with our colleagues for the day, and we got phenomenal support from passers-by, bus drivers and passing motorists.” 

 

“For loads of our members it was their first time ever on strike, and people were buzzing about it. It was such an upbeat day, with a brilliant sense of camaraderie and solidarity.” 

 

Dublin City Council, Wood Quay

Kerry ETB HQ

Dublin Port midnight picket

Limerick County Council

 

Ben Slimm, chair of the Higher Education branch, was on the picket at Munster Technological University (MTU). He said: “The atmosphere on our picket lines was electric from start to finish, and our impact was loud and clear. Ireland needs its public sector workers, and we deserve fair pay that keeps up with the cost of living. During the day members on the picket noticed the change in tone from the Government and welcomed it. But warm words are not an offer."

 

“What members want is concrete action, and they are more than willing to picket again next week.” 

 

University Hospital Limerick Deansgrange Library, Dublin Angelsea Courthouse, Cork
An Coimisiún Pleanála Corlann, Limerick Coimisiún na Meán

 

 

Also in Tralee, Karen Condon said there was great solidarity between the different unions on the picket at University Hospital Kerry, with over 400 Fórsa members picketing. Karen said support rolled in from the public and local businesses, with members “hopeful that the strike would lead to positive talks with government.” 

 

Chair of the civil service division Jean Taylor was on the picket at Revenue’s O’Connell St. premises all day. For Jean, if one word had to describe the day, it would be “positivity”. She said: “Members who had never been on a picket chose to stay longer than their rostered shift given the warmth and enthusiasm they felt standing together. Today, so many have texted me saying they’re proud to be in such a strong union.” 

 
Leinster House, Dublin
Commissioners of Irish Lights Headquarters, Dún Laoghaire Mater Hospital, Dublin Guardian Angels National School, Dublin

 

Down at Dublin City Council’s Civic Offices at Wood Quay Audrey Lambert told media how important it was to make local authority workers work visible: “We provide such vital services for the public. We keep the city going and we deserve to have a pay rise going with inflation rates.” 

 

Pointing to an uncollected bin nearby she said: “It’s just one bin, but it’s the perfect example of the impact when council services stop. It shows the amount of work we are doing, not only to the public, but to the Government, because if you listen to them, we’re not doing much for the pay rise, but if you look around you, the city is not clean today.” 

 
Cork ETB Letterkenny Hospital SNAs in Clifden, Galway
Dún Laoghaire Intreo Centre Department of Finance and DPER Cork City Hall

 

Interviewed by the Irish Examiner on a picket at Cork City Hall member Cliadhna Dineen said: “Everyone is really struggling; we had people struggle to get to the picket line because they were struggling to put money into their tank, we have others struggling with childcare. 

 

“Renting is a huge expense, especially in the city, everyone is feeling the pinch.” 

 

 Government buildings, Dublin
  Donegal town National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire Letterkenny Hospital

 

In Cavan, Fórsa member Tom O’Brien, told the Anglo Celt newspaper that he worries about the impact of the cost of living on younger workers, saying:  “One person I spoke with told me that, after paying all his bills, he had just €50 left at the end of the week to cover food and everything else. I asked him what that meant for his social life, and he said he didn’t have one because he simply couldn’t afford it. All we’re trying to do is put a little extra money in people’s pockets.” 

 

Neil Mathlin from the Kildare Health branch described the feeling that everyone on the picket was there for a “united reason”, saying everyone remained in high spirits throughout the day, with great support from the community, concluding that “Passion didn’t wain during the day and all said they were prepared to picket again next week.” 

 

RSA Dún Laoghaire Fáilte Ireland, Kerry Kildare and Wicklow ETB
Department of Foreign Affairs Wexford General Hospital Garda HQ, Phoenix Park

 

In the west, hundreds of members demonstrated across Galway. In Moycullen, SNA Josephine Cooney talked to the Connaught Tribune about the importance of the public sector standing together, saying: “We are here for fair pay all over the public sector. I am here to be heard and support everyone in the public sector,” she said. “It is great to see everybody out together.” 

 

County by county members stood together. Check out a roundup of local media coverage below: 

 

 

Athlone public sector workers join strike action | Westmeath Independent

Broadcasting to the Border Counties, Midlands and West, Shannonside Northern Sound. | Shannonside.ie

'Everyone here is providing essential services to the public of Waterford': workers on the pickets - News - Waterford News & Star

County wide strike action | Tuam Herald

'The government needs to wake up': chair of Forsa South Tipp Branch

Strike action supported in several West Cork communities | Southern Star

Kerry public sector workers say they’re willing to strike for as long as it takes | RadioKerry.ie  

Strong support for public sector workers as stoppages held across Birr & South Offaly

‘Members are now paying to go to work’ - strike action in Letterkenny

Donegal council workers join 31 Local Authorities in industrial action - Highland Radio 

Supportive 'honks' from motorists as striking staff bring public services to a halt  

Strikes In Kildare : A Snapshot Of The Largest Public Sector Action In Almost 20 Years - Kfm  

Huge turnout in Laois for public sector strikes - News - Laois Nationalist

 

Criminal Courts of Justice, Smithfield  Irish Embassy & Perm Rep, Brussels