Fórsa trade union’s 12,000 SNA (special needs assistant) members have commenced a ballot yesterday on new pay measures negotiated under provisions contained in the Building Momentum public service pay agreement.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan has called on the Government to open negotiations on a new public service pay agreement by May at the latest.

The Government looks set to scrap the requirement for masks to be worn in schools, public offices and on public transport.

Fórsa’s head of education Andy Pike has written to Minister Josepha Madigan asking the education department to enable UCD to seek appropriate accreditation for its SNA programme.

Fórsa has welcomed new Government measures to ease the cost of living crisis, but says more needs to be done

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) will next week submit written evidence to an Oireachtas committee charged with scrutinising planned new laws that the Government claims would give all workers a right to request remote working arrangements.

Fórsa will launch a major report on ‘The Irish State Post-Pandemic’ at 11.00am next Thursday (24^th February), and members are able to follow the event via a live-stream.