Unite the Union, Ireland Region

Public sector craftworkers serve strike notice in pay equity fight

Posted on September 4, 2026 by unitetheunion

Workers seeking restoration of pre-crash analogue agreement

Unite said today (4 September) that it has served three weeks’ notice of industrial action on the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA).

Unite is part of a coordinated campaign by the Public Sector Craft Group of Unions (PSCGOU) in the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to secure restoration of the analogue agreement. The agreement, which ensured pay parity between craftworkers in the public sector and comparators in the private sector, was suspended following the 2008 financial crash.

A recent ballot by PSCGOU affiliates, including Unite, returned a 95 per cent aggregate vote in favour of industrial action.

The nature and timing of the action will be determined by the PSCGOU National Strike Committee. The industrial action could begin as soon as 28 September.

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Posted in Press Releases, Republic of Ireland news | Tagged Eoin Drummey, industrial action, public sector, Sharon Graham, Unite ROI | Leave a comment

Pilgrims workers begin all-out strike over pay in Enniskillen

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Unite the union NI

Escalating industrial dispute will impact supply of some leading UK brands Fridge Raiders, Richmond Sausages and Mr Brains Pork Faggots

Unite which represents approximately 130 workers employed by Pilgrims Europe at its Enniskillen production facility has announced it will begin all out (continuous) strike action beginning at 06.30 Wednesday 2 September.

This marks a sharp escalation of the industrial dispute and follows three weeks of strikes.

Workers are seeking a decent pay increase and an end to the current regime where morning shift workers are the only shift workers not getting fully paid breaks. The lowest paid workers receive an hourly rate of £12.82 – only eleven pence above the minimum wage. Pilgrims Europe’s latest reported after-tax profit was £128 million.

The site produces a range of leading UK and Irish food brands including Fridge Raiders, Richmond Sausages, Mr Brains Pork Faggots, Denny sausages (Republic of Ireland), Rollover sausages (sold at football grounds) and vegan sausages. Fridge raiders are one of the most successful Pilgrims products and are targeted at lunchboxes and for younger consumers.

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Posted in Campaign for Decent Pay, Industrial disputes, Living Wage, Manufacturing, Northern Ireland news, Press Releases | Tagged all-out strike, Enniskillen, Greg O'Kane, low pay, Pilgrims Europe, Sharon Graham | Leave a comment

Stormont must set budget to avoid destructive cuts to NHS services.

Posted on August 28, 2026 by Unite the union NI

Unite warns health trusts are considering cuts targeting low paid workers who are vital to keep the NHS working

Unite, which represents more than 4,000 health and social care workers in Northern Ireland, has demanded the Stormont executive agree a budget to sustain the NHS. The absence of a budget has left regional health trusts considering scything cuts which will be concentrated on non-clinical areas and staff.

Low paid staff including : porters, cleaners, catering staff, triage, mental health and care workers, play a vital role in ensuring the ability of the NHS to function. Unite is warning focussing cuts or outsourcing in these sectors will undermine the NHS from within.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Stormont’s failure to set a budget, is resulting in health trusts planning severe cuts to NHS services. Our members will not be the collateral damage for Stormont’s failings.”

Unite regional officer Brenda Stevenson said, “Drastic cuts to catering or cleaners poses obvious concerns for the health and wellbeing of staff and patients. To have a healthy NHS, you need to have healthy workers.

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Posted in Northern Ireland news, Press Releases, Public Services | Tagged Brenda Stevenson, Health Trusts, NHS cuts, outsourcing, Sharon Graham, Stormont cuts | Leave a comment

Public sector pay: Unite members vote overwhelmingly for industrial action

Posted on August 27, 2026 by unitetheunion

Government must make meaningful offer or face winter strikes

Trade union Unite, which represents members across the public sector, has announced that members have returned an overwhelming mandate for industrial action, if the government fails to make a ‘meaningful offer’ on pay following the expiry of the 2024-2026 Public Services Agreement.

Unite is a member of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Public Services Committee, which earlier in the summer advised that they do not believe there is a viable basis for opening formal negotiations, in the absence of the government setting out a sufficiently credible approach to public sector workers’ pay and living standards at the outset.

Unite will now consult with its shop stewards on the nature and timing of industrial action.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The government needs to recognise reality. Public sector pay is being undermined by inflation and workers are facing a sustained cost-of-living crisis. Our members have Unite’s full support as they prepare to defend their living standards.”

While the absence of a public sector agreement means there is currently no framework governing pay, it also means that unions are not constrained by agreed industrial relations procedures.

Unite’s deputy regional secretary Tom Fitzgerald said: “If the government wants to avoid a winter of strikes, it must stop hiding its head in the sand, come to the table and make public sector workers a meaningful offer which ensures that workers’ pay packets, at the very least, keep pace with spiralling inflation”.

Posted in Press Releases, Republic of Ireland news | Tagged industrial action, public sector, Sharon Graham, Tom Fitzgeral | Leave a comment

Flahavan’s: Strikes off as management backs down on flexibility agreement

Posted on August 23, 2026 by unitetheunion

Unite win shows importance of organising in a union

Unite, which represents workers at Flahavan’s in Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, today (Sunday) welcomed the company’s decision to decouple a pay deal from a flexibility policy which had not been agreed with the union.

Flahavan’s decision follows a unanimous vote for strike action by Unite members.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This win is because our members stood together and were prepared to take strike action. Once again it’s clear the best way for workers to defend their terms and conditions is to be organised in a strong union.”

Unite members will now ballot on the proposed pay deal, following which the parties will engage on all other matters.

Regional officer Eoin Drummey said: “Flahavan’s decision to decouple the proposed pay deal from an unagreed flexibility policy vindicates our members’ position.”