Dear members, 

Yesterday evening we concluded our negotiations in relation to pay in the Community and Voluntary sector. We emerged with a set of proposals that must be considered by our Health and Welfare Divisional Executive Committee (DEC) before a vote of all members takes place.

The proposed agreement was achieved following months of challenging negotiations.  

This agreement builds on the October 2023 interim agreement. 

The pay terms of the new agreement are valued at 9.25%, over two years (October 2024 to October 2026).  

They are as follows:

2024

•    A general round increase in annualised basic salary of 2.25% backdated to 1st October 2024

2025

•    A general round increase in annualised basic salary of 1% on 1st April 2025
•    A general round increase in annualised basic salary of 2% on 1st November 2025

2026

•    A general round increase in annualised basic salary of 2% on 1st April 2026
•    A general round increase in annualised basic salary of 2% on 1st October 2026.

The agreement acknowledges that the pay of some workers in the community and voluntary organisations has fallen behind equivalent grades in public sector organisations. 

In addition to pay terms, this agreement allows for future pay increases, funding will be adjusted to allow for application of equivalent general round pay adjustments, as provided for in any successor agreements to the Public Service Agreement.

The proposed agreement clearly states that any funding provided to organisations under this agreement can only be used to meet the pay increases. 

To ensure compliance with this proposed agreement a joint monitoring / implementation group comprising the funding agencies, employer representatives and staff union representatives will be established to ensure practical issues and disputes arising in the administration of this agreement can be resolved in a timely and effective manner. 

It has been agreed that an independent data gathering exercise will be conducted over the next 8 months, following acceptance of the agreement. This is crucial to create a shared understanding of the sector. Once complete the parties will reengage no later than 1st March 2026 to discuss the outcome of the exercise.

Fórsa’s Health and Welfare DEC will meet within the next couple of days to consider the proposed agreement. We will then revert to members with a timeline on a ballot of members and an FAQ on the agreement.

We have been working collectively on pay in the community and voluntary sector for close to ten years now. Without your persistence we would not be where we are. This agreement will significantly increase pay in the sector now, and in the future.

The community and voluntary sector is essential to the provision of vital public services, without which the most vulnerable people in our society would suffer hugely. Our members who work providing these services deserve fair pay. Thank you for your commitment to this long running campaign.

Yours sincerely,

Ashley Connolly
National Secretary

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