Fórsa has agreed to the recruitment of 40 temporary driver-testers to help with a large backlog of tests caused by Covid-related cancellations, particularly during the first wave of the pandemic.

But the union continues to raise concerns about the number of tests being conducted during the current lockdown. It says there is a high risk of Covid transmission as the 50-minute tests are conducted in extremely confined spaces.

The union is in continuous discussions with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and transport department officials. But it’s clear that the Government won’t change its designation of driver testers as essential workers.

Political pressure for reductions in waiting lists is also growing, and Fórsa has sought additional training and an increase in the number of supervisors to deal with the recruitment of temporary staff.

The union has also made public statements in defence of testers following criticism of the RSA’s handling of tests during this stage of the pandemic.

All tests were stood down a year ago, during the first stage of the pandemic. But testers returned to work in July, when the numbers of new Covid cases seemed to be under control and Fórsa had agreed safety measures.

When the numbers of cases spiked again in the late summer, the union again sought a suspension of all tests. But the Government designated driving tests as an emergency service, and many tests continued to be scheduled.

Fórsa has raised the non-implementation of an award of two additional days leave for science and arts attendants at the National Museum of Ireland.

The union has tabled the issue at the oversight body, which monitors the implementation of national agreements that impact on staff in non-commercial State bodies.

The oversight body meets today (26th March).

Museum management had previously sought to apply the extra leave, but it was blocked at departmental level on the grounds that the staff were part of the clerical officer agreement, which sets annual leave at a maximum of 26 days.

But the attendants always enjoyed two extra days leave due because they regularly work unsociable hours. This is acknowledged in an existing Civil Service ‘agreed report.’

It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

Discussions on sectoral bargaining for Fórsa members in non-commercial State agencies will kick off shortly.

The new public service agreement, Building Momentum, establishes a ‘sectoral bargaining fund’ worth 1% of basic pay, on top of two general round pay adjustments worth 1% each.

The sectoral fund can be used to deal with outstanding adjudications, recommendations and claims relevant to specific groups of workers within the local authority sector. Or groups can opt to take the 1% as a straight pay increase.

The sectoral bargaining process first requires both sides to identify the different groups of grades and staff categories that will be subject to negotiations. Once these ‘sectoral bargaining units’ are agreed, work can begin on how the additional 1% of pay will be distributed through sectoral bargaining.

Most grades in the non-commercial State sector are effectively linked to civil service grades for pay purposes, and this will shape decisions on the shape of sectoral bargaining under the Building Momentum agreement. Fórsa’s Services and Enterprises division is involved in internal consultations about the make-up of the sectoral bargaining units, which will also involve the union’s ‘equivalent grades committees’ regarding clerical and executive grades, which exist across the civil and public service.

Agreement on the shape of the sectoral bargaining groups is meant to be concluded by the end of next month. Payment of any sectoral awards is scheduled for 1st February 2022.

Haddington Road hours

Separately, discussions are intensifying on the establishment of an independent body charged with addressing the so-called ‘Haddington Road hours,’ which are also being addressed under the new deal.

The body, which is to be set up by the end of this month, will take submissions from management and unions representing grades whose hours were increased under the 2013 Haddington Road deal.

It will make recommendations by the end of 2021. Rollout of these recommendations will begin within the lifetime of the agreement, with €150 million available to commence implementation during 2022.

Fórsa fought hard for the inclusion of the process in Building Momentum. As a result, workers whose hours were increased under the Haddington Road deal can expect to see reductions in working time from next year.

Workers who wish to join Fórsa can to do so using a new ‘join online’ function on the union’s website.

Going live with the new system follows several months of research, preparation and testing aimed at making it easier than ever to join the union. It also goes live as the union continues to process a large number of new membership applications, as interest in joining the union has surged since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis.

Fórsa’s general secretary Kevin Callinan commented: “The current crisis has created the necessity to be able to carry out our business in different ways. Work on this project had commenced before the Covid-19 crisis took hold, and its completion marks a vital step as we tackle the challenges of living in changed times.

“We can see that more people want to join a union in response to what’s happening in the wider economy. It’s vital that they can take those initial steps quickly and easily, and making the membership application process more accessible is part of that process.

“This is a crucial new venture to enable Fórsa to substantially increase our membership - and to strengthen the union’s hand - at a critical time in the union’s development,” he said.

The online facility is a streamlined and simplified membership application process, and will be the quickest and easiest way to join the union. All incoming applications will continue to be subject to check-off and approval by Fórsa branches and the national executive committee, while the new online system is designed to ease the administrative burden on branches.

You can join Fórsa online at https://join.forsa.ie/

Fórsa is here to protect you if you have problems arising from the coronavirus or other workplace issues. The best way to contact the union at this time is HERE.

We will deal with queries as quickly as we can but, needless to say, the union will prioritise cases where members’ jobs and incomes are at immediate risk – as well as any serious health and safety issues that may arise.

Fórsa has cancelled all face-to-face meetings for the time being. The union is redeploying its staff to prioritise engagement with management on proposals arising from the Covid-19 public health crisis, and to provide rapid and efficient responses to members’ queries and concerns.

Fórsa's main phone line (01 817 1500) is now open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively members can use the Contact Us page on the Fórsa website to submit queries directly to the relevant division within Fórsa and this remains the most efficient way to access advice directly.

Wherever possible, Fórsa staff have been equipped to work remotely. Therefore, members should not attend Fórsa offices at this time. If you have a query or concern, the best way to raise it is to contact the union HERE.