Irish healthcare workers vote for industrial action over pay

Healthcare and education professionals in Ireland have voted overwhelmingly in favor of industrial action due to a lack of progress in public sector pay negotiations. The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) reported that 94 percent of balloted doctors—including consultants, non-consultant hospital doctors, and public and community health doctors—supported the move.

The decision follows the expiration of the current public service agreement in July 2026, with the IMO citing government inaction and a failure to conclude local bargaining arrangements. The IMO intends to serve three weeks’ notice to the Health Service Executive (HSE) and voluntary hospitals, with industrial action scheduled to begin on Wednesday, October 14.

This movement joins other labor actions within the sector. Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have also voted for industrial action, while workers represented by Fórsa and SIPTU are preparing for a 24-hour work-to-rule action on September 30. Key grievances driving these decisions include deteriorating working conditions, pay disparities relative to the cost of living, and insufficient resources in the healthcare sector.