Fórsa and other unions will expect an effective response to increased living costs when negotiations on a successor to the current public service pay agreement get underway next summer, according to the union’s general secretary Kevin Callinan.

A pilot scheme, trialling a flexible clocking system, is to commence next week in libraries run by Offaly County Council. 

The role of local government must be strengthened to ensure equitable access to quality public services. That’s according to the speakers at a panel session on ‘quality public services,’ which took place at Fórsa’s enhanced consultative conference earlier this week.

Fórsa and other unions have welcomed the publication of the Government’s ambitious climate action plan. But they stressed the need for strong action to ensure its implementation, and called for social dialogue and protection for workers and communities impacted by the move to a carbon-free economy.

The Irish Hospice Foundation has launched a new guide on dealing with grief in the workplace, and providing support for employees, particularly in cases of suicide. The guide is designed specifically with employers and union representatives in mind.

Public service staffing has not nearly kept pace with the rising population in the Republic since 2008, according to Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan.