Fórsa general secretary and president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Kevin Callinan, has said that the cost of living must continue to be the main focus for public service unions in pay talks this year.

The three unions representing staff working in community and voluntary health and care services funded by the HSE – Fórsa, the INMO and SIPTU – attended the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Monday (17^th April).

Fórsa’s health and welfare division is set to hold an extraordinary divisional council meeting later this month to discuss items of significant importance on the divisional agenda.

Fórsa has said it is ‘continuing to see breeches on a daily basis’ on the use of recruitment agencies to fill positions within the Clerical Admin arena of the health body.

Fórsa members at the Louth County Group of hospitals have served notice of a one-day industrial action, due to take place on Tuesday 9th May.

Fórsa is inviting hospital pharmacy technicians to take part in a short survey evaluating their experience in their role.