In what is widely regarded as the biggest strike in the state’s history, 250,000 public sector workers in Ireland came out on strike on Tuesday 24 November. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) had organised the action as widespread anger welled up amongst workers at the government’s attempt to slash public sector wages by 7 per cent. In fact this 1.3 billion cut in wages is part of a 4 billion cuts package which the Budget on 9 December will sanction.