The Union Matters
I don’t often post anything about matters pertaining to the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), of which I am a member, but there is something very important going on so I thought I would make an exception. In what follows, I of course speak for myself as an IFUT member and not for IFUT as a whole.
Yesterday I attended an information session in advance of a forthcoming ballot for industrial action. The reason for the action is that the Public Service Agreement, covering pay and working conditions for all public service workers in Ireland, lapsed at the end of June this year (2026) and there is currently no pay settlement for the second half of this year or next year. Salaries have fallen behind inflation under the existing Agreement and some important commitment have not yet been implemented. The Government does not give the impression of being serious about negotiations on these matters.
The members’ ballot will comprise a single YES/NO question on whether or not to support industrial action, including strike action. I think this is an important step towards serious negotiations. I will be supporting industrial action.
The IFUT ballot will open on September 1st, but only IFUT members (working in public institutions) will be able to vote. If you are eligible for IFUT membership, you should join now so that you can have your say and strengthen the collective position of higher education staff. Eligible colleagues who join IFUT by 5pm on 31 August 2026 will be eligible to vote in the ballot. You can join IFUT here. If you’re eligible, please join!
Similar ballots are taking place across all the public service unions. If it comes to industrial action – which I hope it does not – then such action will be coordinated across the public sector.
In the Dark 
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