'Everyone here is providing essential services to the public of Waterford': workers on the pickets

Public sector workers in Waterford picketed outside of workplaces spanning across the entire public sector this morning, Wednesday, October 14, as part of the national public pay dispute.

Over 300,000 public sector workers were estimated to take part in today's strike action, the largest coordinated walkout in almost 20 years, disrupting hospitals, schools and public services across the country, with some union estimates putting the number of workers taking part as high as 400,000.

In Waterford picketers were seen in front of workplaces across the public sector, similarly to the rest of the country, from health services, the local authorities, schools and other public services.

Teachers at primary level, through the INTO, and at second level, through ASTI and TUI, were all seen taking part in pickets throughout the county, alongside university and college staff.

TUI members picketing outside Waterford College of Further Education, which was closed today due to the industrial action, told the Waterford News & Star that students and members of the community have been "hugely supportive" of today's strike action.

"My take is that the students are very, very supportive," one TUI member said, "They know what the cost of living crisis is doing to them, and so I've only heard support."

Another told the Waterford News & Star that members of the community, in local coffee shops and on the street, have offered support and encouragement throughout the day.

In the wider civil and public service, members of unions including Unite, Forsa, SIPTU and the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants joined pickets across the county, hitting local government offices and HSE services.

Picketers were seen in large gatherings outside health services across the county, with multiple unions banding together at University Hospital Waterford's main site and primary care centres in Waterford City.

The beeping of car horns and locals shouting support were heard at pickets throughout the city today, with the reception picketers received at University Hospital Waterford a constant stream of support.

"I think the public reaction, judging by the sounds of things (drivers shouting support and beeping car horns), is very, very supportive," a Fórsa member told this reporter standing outside the hospital.

"It's beautiful to see all the various different trade unions out here standing outside the hospital at the minute and there's a lot of solidarity there," he continued.

"Everyone's being squeezed by the cost of living at the moment and, you know, everyone here is providing essential services to the public of Waterford and all across the country as well, so it's great to see people standing up for a better deal and a fair deal for themselves."

The public support didn't dwindle any closer to the city centre, where pickets were held across a number of council buildings this morning, with workers from different sectors and unions banding together for "a living wage".

Nigel Dalton, Chair of the SIPTU committee for the Waterford City and County Council spoke to the Waterford News & Star outside the Waterford Crystal building in the city centre, where pickets took place today.

"The strike today is unfortunate," he said, adding that "hopefully this will send a message to the government that we are serious, and if they don't want to engage with us in a meaningful fashion, that we will go ahead with our strike next week, and after that it could be escalated further."

For Waterford City and County Council staff, today's industrial action meant workers from the council itself, from the library services, dog pounds, golf courses, machinery yards and much more gathered together, Mr Dalton said, "all the way from Waterford City bridge to Youghal bridge".

"We're dealing here with some of the lowest paid public servants, the outdoor staff and some of the clerical officers within, and they are at the pin of their collar. I know because I am one," Mr. Dalton said, "And I have to say that with the way inflation has gone, our wages are worth so much less these days."

Picketers across Waterford reiterated their unions' positions, and the overwhelming amount of union members who voted in favour of strike action (over 95% altogether) to solve the ongoing public pay dispute.

"We must be able to at least maintain with inflation, if not slightly above it," Mr Dalton continued, "otherwise for some people it won't be worth their while going to work.

"We must be able to maintain a standard of living or we're actually heading back to the bad old days of the 80s, early 90s where people were pinned to their collar with very little money around.

"We already see with how many nurses leave the country how many trades are leaving the country for greener pastures. If their pay was up to par, they may stay in the country and help build the country back up."

Ahead of today's strike action, Eoin Drummey, a Unite representative for Waterford, told the Waterford News & Star, “This dispute is about fair pay and the need for meaningful engagement.

“The previous Public Service Agreement has expired, there is no meaningful offer on the table for a successor agreement, and the Local Bargaining increase due from 1st September 2025 remains outstanding.

“Our members should not have to continue waiting for commitments on pay to be honoured while the cost of living continues to put significant pressure on workers and household incomes."