‘The rent for a family of four is €2,500 — how can a nurse afford that?’

Firefighters, healthcare staff, university workers and other public-sector employees say rising bills and stalled pay negotiations have left them struggling

Siptu union members of Cork City Fire Brigade picket at the Fire Station, Anglesea Street, Cork City on Wednesday morning. Pictures: Larry Cummins

Cork city centre’s public services ground to a halt on Wednesday due to sector-wide work stoppages, but public opinion appears on the side of the striking workers, judging by supportive driver horn honks at picket lines.

Protesting along with his colleagues outside the Anglesea Street fire station, Cathal Murray of the fire service said the protest was about the cost-of-living increase “and the failure of Government to have a proper structured pay deal with public sector workers”.

He said they were protesting between emergency callouts because: “People are finding it hard at the moment with the cost of living, increase in fuel, rent, home heating costs. I think the Government is not engaging properly with unions, and hasn’t for a long time.” 

Down the street at Cork City Hall, Fórsa’s Cliona Dineen said: “Everyone is really struggling; we had people struggle to get to the picket line because they were struggling to put money into their tank, we have others struggling with childcare.

“Renting is a huge expense, especially in the city — everyone is feeling the pinch.” 

There was also a large crowd outside Cork County Hall, where Fórsa’s Jonathan O’Connor said the horn honking was a good show of support from the public.

He added: “We can see from polls online too that that vast majority of the public support us.” 

University College Cork staff were protesting outside the Western Gateway building and the university's main entrance, with unions including Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), Siptu, and the Postgraduate Workers' Organisation (PWO) present.

Public sector workers picket at Cork City Hall, Cork City on Wednesday morning. 

Eoin Sheehan of the IFUT said they had been “left with no choice" but to protest.

“We are out today because inflation is running at 4%, we haven’t had a pay agreement since June, and our members are getting poorer — they’re not willing to put up with it.” 

Rose Smith, one of several Forsa members protesting outside the City Library, said that the protest was about workers “not earning a living wage”, particularly new, younger staff.

“Wages are not keeping up with inflation, everything is a struggle, and we feel the Government isn’t listening,” she said.

Hundreds of Cork University Hospital staff were out picketing, with representatives from unions including the Irish Medical Organisation, Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, Siptu, Fórsa, the Psychiatric Nurses Association and Medical Laboratory Scientists.

Jibin Soman of the INMO said among CUH staff: “Everyone is tired, everyone is frustrated, everyone is done.

“The cost of living is so high, so people are leaving the country,” he said, including people who have recently emigrated to Ireland, due to the cost of rent, fuel and groceries.

“The rent for a family of four is €2,500 — how can a nurse afford that?” he asked.

Mr Soman added his own salary “just pays the bills — there’s no life”.

Brendan O’Connor, who was protesting with Siptu at the hospital, said talks to negotiate a new agreement should have taken place back in April, while Don Meskell of Fórsa said the part of the last agreement that dealt with local bargaining was never properly implemented.

INMO assistant director of industrial relations Liam Conway said it had members commuting 100km a day each way because they could not afford to live closer to the hospital.

“Wages are completely eroded by the cost of living; people are going without the very basics.” 

He added: “There’s a huge turnout; people are saying it’s the largest picket they’ve seen in Cork for a public sector dispute.” 

This shows “people are fed up with the Government and the rhetoric of the Taoiseach and ministers".