SIPTU members in the public service have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action, in a ballot counted today (31st August) in Liberty Hall, Dublin, and centres in Galway and Cork.
The overall result among SIPTU members employed in health, local government and State agencies, who were balloted in this phase, was 97% in favour of strike action and 98% for industrial action.
SIPTU Deputy General Secretary Adrian Kane said: “This clear and decisive result reflects the deep and utter frustration among our members at the Government’s failure to present workers’ representatives with serious proposals on pay or provide guarantees against outsourcing. The previous public service agreement expired in June, and this Government has sat on its hands since then.
Trade unions have been available for months to negotiate a successor agreement, but the Government has failed to engage meaningfully. It is unacceptable and has caused a huge swell of anger across our 75,000-strong membership in the public service.
“As a result, the value of public service workers’ wages continues to be eroded, while already overstretched public services are being placed under even greater pressure. The cost-of-living crisis affects workers throughout the economy. Public service workers not only deliver vital health, local government, education and other essential frontline and emergency services to our communities; they are also the partners, parents, siblings and children of workers in every other sector.
“Make no mistake, the Government’s decision to ignore workers while providing extensive financial support to other sectors is a political choice. The clear lesson is that this Government responds only when it is placed under pressure.”
He added: “The growing use of artificial intelligence in the public service should concern every worker and everyone who depends on public services. We cannot allow management by algorithm to replace human judgement, collective bargaining or proper accountability.
“Any AI system affecting recruitment, staffing, rosters, workloads, performance management, access to services or employment conditions must be subject to detailed consultation with workers and their representatives. There must also be full transparency and robust safeguards concerning how these systems operate, where personal information is stored, how it is used, how bias and discrimination will be prevented, and who remains accountable when an automated system makes a mistake.
“The reality is that decisions taken now will determine whether AI strengthens public services and supports workers, or becomes a mechanism for reducing employment, weakening accountability and degrading the quality of services. Workers and our movement must have a decisive voice in shaping that future.”
Kane concluded: “SIPTU will now confer with our sister unions across the public service as they complete their balloting processes. Together, we will determine the action necessary to compel the Government to enter meaningful negotiations.”