Fórsa’s elected National Executive met earlier this week and decided overwhelmingly to recommend acceptance of the proposed new public service agreement, Building Momentum. The proposals will be put to a ballot of the union’s members early in the New Year.

The first opportunity in over 15 years to renegotiate the special needs assistant (SNA) contract is in sight if the proposed new public service agreement is accepted in ballots of members, according to Fórsa.

Fórsa has welcomed the proposed prioritisation of education staff and other key workers in the ‘provisional vaccine allocation groups’ published by the health department last week. These groups will be among those prioritised to receive the Covid-19 vaccination once it’s approved for use in Ireland.

Fórsa has recently established a national school caretakers’ branch. And we want your help to spread the word.

Fórsa has given a guarded welcome to a Government announcement that the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be published in January.

Ireland is to get a brand-new university in two weeks’ time, when Munster Technological University (MTU) comes into existence on 1st January.

The North Dublin North Leinster SNA branch has seen a surge in the number of activists, with over 100 new local representatives signing up since the start of the school year.

President Michael D Higgins last week marked “Go Raibh Maith Agaibh Day (GRMA day) by paying tribute to school staff and their communities as they continue to navigate and manage the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called on the Government to give all workers a legal right to request flexible working arrangements, including remote work. 

New CSO figures published earlier this month demonstrate the need for Government to continue to stimulate the economy through income supports, business supports and public investment, according to Fórsa.