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.

Covid-19 vaccine booster shots are now being administered to healthcare workers. 

Fórsa, the INMO, SIPTU and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) are to a lodge a pay claim for thousands of workers employed in the voluntary and community sector. 

The contribution of public sector workers during the pandemic has boosted trust in public services over the last 18 months, according to HSE chief executive Paul Reid.

Fórsa and other unions have welcomed the publication of the Government’s ambitious climate action plan.

Fórsa is to continue talks with the HSE on the issue of career progression for social workers following discussions last week to pause existing appointments to senior practitioner grade, under the HSCP career pathway process. 

Fórsa and management at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda have drafted proposals designed to resolve a dispute at the hospital over post upgrades and promotions that have taken place outside of agreed processes.

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