Galway City Council hit by strike action as local Councillors and Mayor back workers

Galway’s three Labour Party councillors, including the Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Helen Ogbu, have backed public sector workers taking part in today's nationwide strike, as calls grow for the Government to return to the negotiating table to resolve the ongoing pay dispute.

Published 14th Oct 2026, 15:11 BST Public sector protestors taking part in today's official nationwide dispute with Mayor of Galway City Cllr Helen Ogbu and Labour Cllr John McDonagh. | Cllr Helen Ogbu Galway’s three Labour Party councillors, including the Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Helen Ogbu, have backed public sector workers taking part in today's nationwide strike, as calls grow for the Government to return to the negotiating table to resolve the ongoing pay dispute. Due to the strike, Galway City Council offices, community centres, Galway City Museum, Town Hall Theatre and Liosbán Recycling Centre are closed to the public today (Wednesday, October 14), with all Galway City Council services affected by the industrial action.

Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Helen Ogbu, Cllr John McDonagh and Cllr Níall McNelis of the Labour Party have called for meaningful engagement between the Government and trade unions, as public sector workers stage their first nationwide strike in 17 years.

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The industrial action involves teachers, nurses, special needs assistants, healthcare workers, civil servants and local authority staff, following months of disagreement over pay.

The dispute follows the expiry of the previous public sector pay agreement in June, with unions seeking a new deal that would protect workers' wages against rising living costs.

High Court injunction remains in place as Thursday talks proposed over Merlin Woods 150-bed ward block moves forward as part of €5bn UHG redevelopment The three Galway Labour councillors have criticised the Government's handling of the dispute, arguing that workers should not have to resort to industrial action to secure meaningful pay negotiations.

Mayor of Galway City Cllr Helen Ogbu and Cllr John McDonagh at today's public sector protest | Cllr Helen Ogbu Cllr Niall McNelis said the strike was the result of months of frustration among public sector workers.

“Public sector unions have been calling on the government to enter meaningful pay talks for months at this stage – and since the expiry of the last deal, in June.”

Meanwhile, the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) has also expressed support for workers taking industrial action today, while urging all sides to resume negotiations to reach a fair and sustainable agreement.

The organisation highlighted the pressures facing local authority employees, who provide services ranging from housing, roads and planning to libraries, environmental services and emergency response.

Salthill businesses rally against plans to rezone former Tourist Office site AILG President Cllr Aengus O'Rourke said local authority staff were being asked to deliver increasingly complex services with fewer resources.

“In very simple terms, our local authority workforce is being asked to deliver more, and increasingly complex services, with fewer staff than the sector had almost two decades ago,” he said.

“We therefore appeal to all sides to re-engage constructively and urgently. There must be a willingness to listen, negotiate and find common ground so that a fair and sustainable agreement can be reached.”

Cllr McNelis said public sector workers deserved clarity on pay, particularly given ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

He accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of failing to engage properly with unions and attempting to shift responsibility for the industrial action onto workers.

“It is extraordinary that, four months on, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael continue to gaslight 300,000 public and civil servants – and have the audacity to blame them and their union for this action,” he said.