Public Service Pay Campaign – Ballot Result and Industrial Action
AHCPS CIRCULAR 24.2026
22 September 2026
To: All AHCPS Members
Re: Public Service Pay Campaign – Ballot Result and Industrial Action
Dear Colleague,
The Association’s ballot on industrial action, up to and including strike action, closed today, Tuesday, 22 September 2026.
The result of the ballot was as follows:
- Votes in favour of industrial action: 87.9%
- Votes against industrial action: 12.1%
- Turnout: 64.6%
The Executive Committee wishes to thank all members who participated in the ballot. The result provides the Association with a clear mandate to take industrial action in pursuit of a satisfactory successor to the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026, which expired on 30 June 2026.
Commencement of Industrial Action
Following consideration of the ballot result, the Executive Committee has decided that AHCPS members will commence industrial action from their normal starting time on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
The Association has today formally notified the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation of its intention to commence industrial action on that date.
The initial phase of the action will involve a work-to-rule and associated non-cooperation measures, as outlined below.
Industrial Action Instructions
With effect from your normal starting time on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, and until further notice, all AHCPS members are instructed to comply with the following:
- Work strictly within your contractual obligations
Members should carry out their duties strictly in accordance with their contracts of employment and confine their work to duties appropriate to their respective grades.
Members should not undertake duties or responsibilities that properly belong to another grade.
- Observe working time and rest entitlements
Members should strictly observe their entitlements under working time legislation, including statutory breaks, daily and weekly rest periods and compensatory rest entitlements.
- Non-cooperation with changes to blended and remote working
Members should not participate in or cooperate with discussions, reviews or initiatives intended to adversely alter existing blended or remote working arrangements.
- Time off in lieu
Members should not use time-off-in-lieu arrangements to alleviate staffing shortages, operational pressures or other resource deficiencies.
- Vacant posts and absent colleagues
Members should not undertake the duties or responsibilities of vacant posts or cover the work of colleagues who are absent, including colleagues on annual leave, sick leave or other forms of leave.
Members should not absorb additional duties arising from vacancies or the absence of colleagues.
Implementation of the Instructions
These instructions apply to all AHCPS members and will remain in effect until further notice.
Members should not enter into local arrangements that would undermine or circumvent the industrial action.
Where difficulties arise concerning the application of these instructions, members should seek clarification from their Branch Committee or the AHCPS Head Office.
Further guidance will issue as necessary.
Coordination with Other Public Service Unions
The Association will continue to coordinate its approach with the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and other public service unions involved in the campaign for a successor public service pay agreement.
Fórsa members in the Civil Service are also due to commence limited industrial action on 30 September 2026.
The Association reserves the right to review or escalate the industrial action, up to and including strike action, should circumstances require.
Members will be advised in advance of any decision to escalate the action.
Conclusion
The Association remains committed to securing a satisfactory successor to the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026 through meaningful engagement and negotiation.
However, in the absence of an acceptable agreement, members have now given the Association a mandate to pursue industrial action.
The Executive Committee appreciates the support of members and asks that all members comply fully with the instructions issued by the Association.
Members will be kept informed of developments as the campaign progresses.
Please ensure that this circular is circulated to all members in your branch. This circular is also available on the website.
Yours sincerely,
Ciaran Rohan
General Secretary