There will be widespread disruption across the public sector today as over 300,000 trade union members begin industrial action in protest at government pay cuts.

Teachers, nurses and other members of IMPACT and the Craft Group of unions are staging a work-to-rule.

The Health Service Executive has asked the Labour Relations Commission to intervene in the dispute, after union leaders refused to exempt the health sector from their campaign.

Sheila Noonan, incoming General Secretary of the INTO, is making no apology for launching industrial action.

"Quite clearly we have Government as our employer and simply need to make a protest and make no defence… for us defending ordinary employees in terms of what's happening," Ms Noonan said.

"And we're not out of the woods yet in relation to signals that Government have given in relation to pensions next year.

"So the battles have well to be fought."

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16/03/2010: Thousands of benefit cheques 'will be delayed by industrial action'
15/03/2010: Health sector strike 'must go ahead'
15/03/2010: Unions and Govt begin talks over pay cuts
13/03/2010: Cowen hopeful talks can resolve public sector dispute
12/03/2010: Govt agrees talks schedule with public-sector unions
12/03/2010: Do not pre-judge talks with Government, unions urge
12/03/2010: Union chief upbeat ahead of talks with Government
12/03/2010: Government and unions to enter talks today
10/03/2010: Taoiseach calls for 'realistic' talks with unions
09/03/2010: Thousands of staff to strike at Dublin hospitals
09/03/2010: ISME urges Government and unions to return to talks
08/03/2010: Schools and hospital face disruption as unions escalate action
08/03/2010: Unions to escalate action in pay row
08/03/2010: Unions to escalate industrial action with work stoppages
08/03/2010: Union chiefs to consider ramping up action
06/03/2010: CPSU to escalate strike action
05/03/2010: Public-sector union serves strike notice
05/03/2010: IMPACT: Health workers to escalate strike action
05/03/2010: HSE urging workers to halt work-to-rule action
02/03/2010: Public servants to ramp up pay cuts protest
01/03/2010: Unions give Govt six weeks to resolve pay cut dispute
27/02/2010: HSE warns of disruption to answering phones
25/02/2010: Trade union demands real talks with Government
25/02/2010: Public service to cease answering phones from 1pm
24/02/2010: Public sector unions to step up industrial action 'within weeks'