Conference to kick off bright and early this morning, with Taoiseach due at 9am
Good morning delegates, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD is due to address Conference at 9am, so delegates are asked to be in the hall promptly at 8.45am. After the speech, general secretary Kevin Callinan will respond on behalf of delegates.
After the speeches core Conference business will resume. The ballot to choose our officers for the next two years will open with the Presidential ballot at 10am. The Treasurer and Vice-Presidential ballots will run later on during the day.
In the morning session we have the bread and butter of union policy to vote on, with motions on pay and living standards top of the agenda. These will be followed by a presentation on the findings from our remote work survey and a panel discussion considering what we have learned about remote work in the years since Covid made it a part of our lives.
Following the break, the afternoon session will kick off with motions on remote work, and terms and conditions of employment, before heading into closed session to consider internal union issues.
Conference is scheduled to end at 6.30pm.
All conference documents are available on the conference website hub, which you can access here.
In their opening speeches to conference President Martin Walsh and General Secretary Kevin Callinan paid tribute to members' efforts to build collective power over the past two years, and shared the news that the union has hit its recruitment goal of 100,000 members, thanks to the hard work of organising, mobilising and building that members have undertaken over the past two years.
Kevin went on to note that collective strength will be needed during pay talks, saying: “Winning a better deal will take all of us. We will go into these talks not hoping to be heard, but impossible to ignore.” Read RTE’s coverage of the speech here: Fórsa General Secretary demands better pay deal
On Wednesday evening, Conference awarded Distinguished Service Awards to members in recognition of their commitment and dedication to their union. Vinny Savage from the Tipperary Local Government branch was awarded Honorary Lifetime Membership, the union's highest honour.
We have two fantastic fringe events taking place today during the mid-day break.
In the Brehon Suite from 13.15 - 14.00 you can find Céad Míle Fáilte - Fórsa's Journey Towards 100,000 Members. The Membership unit will share what we've learned from our journey to 100,000 members and look at where we go next. Featuring activist voices from high growth branches, insights from our membership data, and a special address from general secretary Kevin Callinan.
In the Park Suite from 13.15 - 14.00 you can find Elections, Peace and Trump: What Next for Colombia’s Progressive Movement? Learn about the positive impact the union's support is having on Columbian trade unionists and communities as they strive for a more peaceful and democratic nation. We will be joined by Colombian trade unionist Jairo Ramirez to discuss how international trade unionists can support the Colombian people’s hopes for change.
The tradition of the Biennial Conference Charity Cycle is alive and well. Staff and members departed Limerick at 8.30am yesterday morning, and arrived a little after 4.30pm.
Our triumphant team were greeted with cheers and applause as they arrived at the INEC, completing the over 100km journey.
Every second year the charity cycle raises money for worthy charities, including cancer research projects, mental health and suicide prevention projects.
Thanks to the generous donations of branches, a collection at conference and a contribution from our National Executive Committee, just under €240,000 has been raised and distributed to the charities since the tradition began in 2008.
Assistant general secretary Michael Kerrigan said: "It’s great to have the opportunity to take part in the charity cycle again this year. We have managed to give significant support to a lot of vital charities over the years. It’s also a great way to remind ourselves that our union is part of the broader community and the positive impact we can have."
Drop by the stalls in the Exhibitor's Hall. From union stands to partner organisations, therapy dogs and a photo booth, there's something for everyone!
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