Prison officers vote for industrial action over pay talks

The Prison Officers Association (POA) has reported a national poll conducted among its members, revealing strong support for industrial action, potentially including strikes, should the government fail to present a clear and compelling plan to address pay and living standards at the outset of the upcoming public sector pay negotiations.

Additional ballot initiatives have been disclosed by other public sector unions such as Fórsa, SIPTU, INMO, and Unite. The previous public sector pay agreement concluded on June 30, and formal discussions have not commenced regarding a new agreement. The last agreement had offered pay hikes of up to 10.25% over a span of two and a half years.

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers had previously dismissed the prospect of industrial action as unnecessary and expressed the government's willingness to engage in talks with unions on all matters. A Department of Public Expenditure spokesperson affirmed the government's continued willingness to engage with unions on all issues, emphasizing that only through engagement can a resolution be achieved.