Industrial Relations

Workers mark May Day with call to action on cost of living

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the ICTU Youth Committee, and the Dublin Council of Trade Unions are today calling on the Government to tackle Ireland's deepening cost of living crisis, as workers take to the streets of Dublin to mark May Day. The theme of this year’s march is ‘Can You Afford to...

Government must protect workers, not business interests

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has today met with Government, warning it to stop capitulating to business interests and focus on maintaining workers’ living standards. The meeting was held as part of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF), which brings together trade unions, employers, and...

Unions warn that fuel tax cuts set precedent for pay across the economy

ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy has warned that the Government’s €500m tax cut for the fuel industry will be factored into pay negotiations across all sectors of the economy in the next year. Commenting, Congress General Secretary Owen Reidy said: “Trade unions across Ireland have taken note of...

Quality Employment and Good Jobs: The First Step to a New Economic Model

22 Feb, 2026

This report is the first in a new series of papers on the New Economic Model. In the New Economic Model Policy Series we delve deeper into specific policy areas and elaborate what it is that we think needs to be done. This report focuses on Quality Employment and Good Jobs.

ICTU Private Sector Pay Guidance for 2026

16 Dec, 2025

The Congress Private Sector Committee is recommending unions in the private sector seek to secure pay increases in the range of 4.7% to 6%, where affordable.

Irish Congress of Trade Unions recommends pay claim of 4.7% to 6% in private sector for 2026

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has recommended unions organising workers in the private sector seek pay increases of between 4.7% and 6%, where sustainable, for 2026 The guidance was issued with the unanimous agreement of the Congress Private Sector Committee. The recommendation comes as Irish...

Moves to protect the integrity of pension auto-enrolment welcome

Congress understands the Minister for Social Protection intends to sign secondary legislation into law to protect the integrity of the new pension auto-enrolment scheme under the powers given to him by the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act. Welcoming the commitment to set out in...

November 28th: Workplace Day of Actions in solidarity with Palestine

Nov 28 2025

Irish Congress of Trade Unions Workplace Day of Actions in solidarity with the people of Palestine When: Friday November 28th November Materials can be...

Sting in the tail for workers in the Social Welfare Bill as Government buries Budget benefit cut

The Irish Congress of Trade Union has expressed its concern that the Government has included a “stealth cut” to Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit as part of the Social Welfare Bill. In last month’s budget a €10 increase to weekly social welfare payments was announced. In the days that followed, the...

Congress welcomes CJEU recognition that Directive on collective bargaining is on sound legal footing

Any ambiguity on the legality of the Adequate Minimum Wages Directive has been put beyond doubt, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions said today (11 November), following a Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruling. In its ruling announced today, the Court upheld in full all articles...