More than 300,000 public sector workers in Ireland are preparing for a 24-hour strike on Thursday 12 November, after pay talks stalled — the same day Dublin hosts around 50 European leaders for a major summit.

Pay talks chaired by Workplace Relations Commission chair Kevin Foley adjourned on Wednesday night without agreement. Unions rejected a government offer worth 7.75 percent over two and a half years — an initial 1.75 percent rise followed by five 1 percent increases to October 2028. They want a better deal than the last agreement, 10.25 percent over two and a half years, which expired on 30 June.

Fórsa, the largest public service union, says its civil and public service members will stop work for 24 hours, alongside members of other unions. Rallies are planned from noon to 2pm in eight locations: Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford, Sligo, Letterkenny and Tullamore. In Dublin, marchers may move from O'Connell Street to Government Buildings.

The European Political Community summit takes place at the Convention Centre Dublin on 12 November, followed by an informal EU leaders' meeting on 13 November, during Ireland's Council presidency. Police call it the largest security operation in the history of the state, with extensive road closures across the city centre from 10 to 13 November.

Union sources have warned that very few staff are expected to be exempt from the strike, raising questions about staffing for the summit. Rank-and-file police officers also plan a work-to-rule around the event in a separate dispute over working conditions.

It will be the second national stoppage in a month, after a 14 October walkout unions say drew around 300,000 people. Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers has called the strike extremely regrettable, warning of disruption to schools, hospitals and other services while talks continue.

[Source: newsy-today.com](https://www.newsy-today.com/pay-row-negotiations-stalled-after-independent-group-adjourns/) | [Source: forsa.ie](https://www.forsa.ie/faqs-strike-rallies-2026/)