Thousands of public sector workers take to picket lines
Carlow County Council National Staff Protest. Photo: Paul Curran
THOUSANDS of public sector workers took to picket lines across Carlow today as part of strike action.
About 300,000 public sector workers are engaging in industrial action today in what is only the second nationwide public sector strike in 40 years as they seek a new public service pay deal amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Striking workers gathered outside premises across Carlow, including the South-East Technological University (SETU), Carlow Garda Station, the county council offices and a number of primary and secondary schools, while sittings at Carlow courthouse were cancelled.
Aisling Crawley, an office worker with the Department of Social Protection on Kennedy Avenue, told The Nationalist: “The reason I am striking today is that, if I worked in the private sector, I could individually negotiate a pay rise. The only way to do it in the public sector is collectively with all my co-workers.”
She added: “I am hopeful that the government will come and sit down with the unions and we won’t have to come out and do this again next week.” She also thanked the Delta Centre for supplying food and hot drinks to strikers and Leinster Hearing for providing access to toilet facilities throughout the day.
Outside SETU's Kilkenny Road campus, as passing motorists beeped their horns in solidarity, members of Unite the Union said they did not want to be on strike; however, the high cost of living had left them with little alternative.
“We don’t want to be here, but the government are not listening to us and they are not realising what people are facing in reality,” said one woman, who asked not to be named.
Meanwhile, at the Green Road entrance to the university, members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) spoke of a lack of trust in the government, particularly the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, ahead of any negotiations.
One worker said: “Promises are grand when they are kept, but they haven’t really been so far.”
Deputy general secretary of SIPTU Adrian Kane said: “Today is a day of solidarity for workers across the economy who are struggling with a government that fails to understand that the current circumstances facing the vast majority of workers must be acknowledged and addressed. Otherwise, they will exercise their democratic right to withdraw their labour to ensure they are.”
There was significant disruption to many HSE services due to the stoppages, with all non-urgent healthcare and community appointments cancelled.
In a statement, the HSE said that despite the “widespread curtailment of health and social care services” due to the work stoppages, hospitals remained “very busy.”
The statement said engagements with unions throughout the day had been “positive” and had helped to ensure critical care services were prioritised, while affected appointments would be rescheduled as “soon as possible.”
“Rescheduling of impacted appointments and procedures will be prioritised and completed as soon as possible. We ask patients to bear with us, as there may be further delays until there is greater certainty regarding future industrial action,” the statement concluded.
