In brief
INMO Ballot Result: Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, with over 99%.
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What happened
On 9 September 2026, the INMO announced the results of a nationwide ballot of its members. Of those who took part, more than 99% voted in favour of industrial action, up to and including strike action.
The ballot ran for six weeks and was conducted in person, rather than online or by post. INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said morale among members is low, pointing to overcrowding and understaffing across the health service, alongside frustration at the pace of pay talks.
Why INMO members voted for industrial action
The dispute is rooted in public sector pay. Ireland's most recent public service pay deal expired on 30 June 2026, and as of the ballot result, formal negotiations on what comes next had yet to begin.
INMO has framed the vote around cost-of-living pressures on nurses and midwives, including the practicalities of shift work, commuting costs and rent, particularly for early-career staff working in city-centre teaching hospitals. The Government side, through Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers, has said officials are ready to negotiate and that balloting was not necessary at this stage.
INMO isn't the only union involved. Fórsa, which represents around 32,000 members working in public health services (including the HSE, Tusla and Section 38 organisations), has also balloted its members and formally notified employers of industrial action, due to begin as work-to-rule from 30 September 2026.
What does "industrial action" actually mean?
Industrial action is a general term for measures workers take, usually collectively and through a union, to press an employer on a dispute, short of resigning. It covers a spectrum of options, including:
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Work-to-rule – doing only what is strictly required under contract, with no discretionary extra effort (for example, no unpaid overtime).
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Withdrawal of cooperation – refusing to take part in specific tasks, such as covering additional shifts or overtime.
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Full strike action – a complete withdrawal of labour for a defined period.
A "yes" vote in a ballot like this one doesn't automatically mean a strike is imminent. It gives the union's leadership the authority to choose which form of action to use, and when, depending on how talks progress.
What happens next
With the ballot passed, the INMO's Executive Council will decide on the type, scale and timing of any action, likely in coordination with other public sector unions who have also balloted their members. Fórsa's work-to-rule is already scheduled to start on 30 September 2026, which gives some indication of the timeline other unions may follow.
Whether it escalates to strike action, and when, will depend largely on whether formal pay talks begin and what, if anything, Government negotiators put on the table in the coming weeks.
FAQ - INMO Ballot Result
What did INMO members vote on?
Whether to authorise industrial action, up to and including strike action, over the absence of a new public sector pay deal.
What was the result?
Over 99% voted in favour.
Does this mean nurses are going on strike?
Not immediately. The result gives the INMO's Executive Council the authority to use industrial action, but no strike date has been announced. Action could start with lighter measures like work-to-rule.
Why now?
The last public service pay deal expired on 30 June 2026, and formal talks on a new agreement had not started by the time of the ballot result.
Are other unions involved?
Yes. Fórsa, representing public health staff, has already given notice of work-to-rule action from 30 September 2026, and other public sector unions have also balloted members.