Over 300,000 Irish public sector workers launch first general strike since 2009
More than 300,000 teachers, health workers and civil servants in Ireland began a general strike on Wednesday. The strike was triggered by a prolonged deadlock in pay negotiations between unions and the government. Workers are demanding pay increases that they argue have not kept pace with rising living costs.
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Ireland's public sector ground to a halt on Wednesday as more than 300,000 workers, including teachers, health workers and other civil servants, began the country's first general strike since 2009. The walkout stems from a prolonged deadlock between unions and the government over pay negotiations, with workers demanding increases that unions argue have failed to keep pace with the cost of living. The scale of the action marks a significant escalation in industrial relations in Ireland, where public sector pay disputes have simmered for months without resolution. Schools, hospitals and other essential public services faced widespread disruption as the strike got underway, reflecting the breadth of the workforce involved. The strike represents one of the largest coordinated labour actions in the country in recent memory and places significant pressure on the government to return to the negotiating table.
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