Fórsa, has said uncertainty remains over the recovery and future of aviation, despite signs of hope as more people are vaccinated against Covid-19. The union represents around 5,000 workers in airlines, airports, air navigation bases, aviation regulatory bodies, and air traffic control.

Cultural institutions are set to reopen from Monday 10^th May under the Government’s latest Covid plan, ‘Recovery and Resilience: The Path Ahead.’ 

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has said it “remains unclear” on the capacity it will require for dealing with the backlog of driving test applicants, which has built up during the pandemic.

Clerical, administrative and executive staff in non-commercial State agencies will receive a 1% pay increase on 1st February 2022 after Fórsa’s National Executive opted for a straight 1% pay round under the sectoral bargaining clause of the Building Momentum agreement.

Fórsa has again added its weight to calls for a legal right for employees to request remote working. In a submission to an official State consultation on the matter, the union said that, while some roles were inappropriate for remote working, legislation should underpin the principles of fair access to remote working arrangements.

This week saw the formal establishment of the body charged with making recommendations to begin the process of addressing the additional working hours introduced for many State agency employees under the 2013 Haddington Road agreement.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on aviation and other industries is set to dominate Fórsa’s biennial Services and Enterprises conference, which takes place next Thursday (13th May).

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan has written to Irish MEPs to seek their support in getting life-saving Covid-19 vaccines to struggling countries in the developing world.