A growing wave of industrial unrest is sweeping across the Republic of Ireland’s public sector, as tens of thousands of healthcare, education, and local government workers have launched targeted work-to-rule action in a long-running pay dispute with the national government. More than 100,000 public employees, ranging from frontline nurses and midwives to school support staff and civil servants, began the targeted work restrictions early Wednesday, marking the first major collective action in what is set to be a escalating series of disruptions through October.