Fórsa has said the HSE’s new acute waiting list action plan, published last week, must focus on the community-led, integrated care plan central to Sláintecare or face failure.

The head of Fórsa’s Health and Welfare Division, Éamonn Donnelly, has urged people to get the flu jab as we head into the winter.

Public expenditure minister Michael McGrath has asked the Labour-Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) to explore the issue of recognition for workers who made exceptional efforts during the pandemic, including those who had high exposure to the Covid-19 virus.

Fórsa this week welcomed the Budget announcement of improved tax relief for heating and electricity costs that arise from home working. But the union said meeting the additional costs associated with remote working remained under discussion in talks on a long-term framework for ‘blended working’ in the public service.

Staff at St Christopher’s in Longford have balloted in favour of a phased restoration to the appropriate point on their pay scales, following a pay freeze applied at the height of the financial crisis in 2008.

The Cabinet will meet next Tuesday (19th October) to finalise the Government’s approach to the proposed removal of Covid-related public health restrictions, originally planned for next Friday (22nd October).

Maintaining living standards against a background of rising living costs will be the priority in future pay negotiations, according to Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan. 

Public sector jobs have edged ahead of most private sector companies as employees’ top choice for 2021. That’s according to the ‘most attractive employers index,’ which surveyed over 11,000 professionals employed across 48 industries.

Fórsa has expressed concern that over 350,000 pensioners could be hit with PRSI for the first time under new proposals from the Pensions Commission.