RTÉ reports that Fórsa's school secretaries and caretakers were in the WRC yesterday and acknowledged 'some progress' on the pensions issue. In a memo to members last night, Andy Pike said some progress was made on pension entitlements but no progress has yet been made on the recognition of prior service for pension purposes.

The parties are due to return to WRC on 20th November, allowing further time for the Government to develop a proposal on this issue.

This week's IRN features a number of Fórsa-related stories including the Land Development Agency shutting the door on talks on union recognition, just as the Government this week launched its Action Plan on collective bargaining, and there's an update on the Ryanair EWC. The latter two stories are also covered in the Fórsa member bulletins today.

Also in IRN, a recent conference finds "evidence doesn’t point to large-scale job losses from AI," as the WRC publishes guidance on the use of artificial intelligence when making submissions as part of claims.

Elsewhere, Martin Wall writes in the Irish Times about the pay structure in Uisce Éireann, reporting that one employee at the national water utility received €32,500 in performance-related awards last year on top of a salary of more than €100,000. He also reports that St James’s Hospital in Dublin paid €1.44 million last year to an unlimited company owned by members of staff to provide diagnostic services. 

Meanwhile, turkey farmers are battening down the hatches as two outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu have been detected among turkey flocks in counties Carlow and Meath. It's reported that fear of a bird flu-related turkey shortage has sent pre-Christmas wholesale market prices 'soaring.'

Your Zen this morning is about a new approach to welcoming strangers.

Have a lovely weekend. 

NS