Delegates,
As you leave Galway, we hope you will take the spirit of collaboration and participation of this conference with you for a long time together, motivated by the new Civil Service Divisional Strategy, Playing Our Part – Together.
Thanking delegates for their active engagement during conference Deputy General Secretary Éamonn Donnelly said: “Led by your new Chair Jean Taylor and Vice Chairs Cormac Donoghue and Darragh Fox this division will go from strength to strength and build upon the great work of Helen Linehan, Sue Kelly and Darragh Fox.
A photo gallery of conference can be viewed here.
Conference Review
In his address to conference on Thursday morning Deputy General Secretary and head of division Éamonn Donnelly talked about the need to organise members on relevant issues, namely pay, working patterns, AI, outsourcing and the Civil Service Regulation (Amendment) Bill.
Éamonn told delegates that just this week he received a letter from the Department of Public Expenditure outlining the agreed principles of a new conciliation and arbitration scheme. He reminded delegates that two years ago this was deemed almost impossible.
But thanks to the continued tenacity of the negotiators, we are now on the cusp of a new system of dispute resolution for civil servants that will bring tangible timelines, an end to the system of statements and counter statements, and a fair process for all.
The sheer diversity of issues faced by civil servants and, the diversity of workers in the civil service was highlighted throughout the day on Thursday.
Deirdre Morgan, chair of the Legal Professionals branch, brought forward motion 65 calling for mobility to include professional and technical grades, underlining that when those working at general services grades have access to mobility but those who are on professional grades cannot avail of it, it becomes a discriminatory practice and limits career progression.
Hazel Menton of the Archivists branch brought forward a motion on the protection of grading structures for professional and technical grades. Hazel is a member of the National Professional and Technical Committee (NPTC) which is an Equivalent Grades Committee, working to represent professional and technical grades in the civil service. Any member who would like to make contact with them can email pantequivalentgrades@forsa-rep.ie
A poignant moment came during the debate on Motion 33, which called for the establishment of disability, neurodiversity and chronic illness policies within civil service organisations.
Delegates gave a standing ovation for Aisling when she said: “I’m intelligent, I’m strong, and I’m resilient -and I’ve known this since I was diagnosed with ADHD two years ago. I support this motion, but I also believe it’s important to work with the union to explain what ADHD is and raise awareness.”
Two motions calling on the CSDEC to work to reform the blanket ban on political activity by civil servants also passed.
Speaking to both motions, Cathal Kelly of the Finance, PER and Associated Organisations branch said: “There is nothing sacred about the work that civil servants do that means we should be banned from all forms of political activity.”
“Other modern, western European countries are able to manage with civil servants at a range of grades engaging in political activity. Yes, there are restrictions where there is a genuine conflict of interest, and declarations are required.”
“Our blanket ban is excessive, and it is a denial of our rights to be full and active citizens. It bans us from participating in activism on human rights, climate change, in activism on policy on sport to the arts.”
Speakers from the FGE branch spoke passionately about the need to protect their jobs from outsourcing. Ellie Brennan told conference that there are some departments that aren’t recruiting FGE grades anymore and cited the reduction of service officers in Dublin Castle which has reduced from 22 to 7 as an example. Supporting their calls for solidarity, conference sent a strong message that outsourcing service officers’ work will not be supported by the union.
In what is always a joyful and meaningful part of conference, Distinguished Service Awards were presented by Fórsa President Martin Walsh and Vice President Michael Crowe. Congratulations to the members who received awards. They are:
- Carmel Cotter, Revenue Clerical Branch,
- Audrey Lyons, DAFM Executive Grades Branch
- James Higgins, DAFM Executive Grades Branch
- Betty Tyrrell Collard, Dublin Central Branch
- Mary Dunne, Portlaoise CS Clerical
- Colm Henry, Justice Executive Grade
- John Healy, Tipperary General Branch
- George Lynch, Arch & Eng & Htge Services
- Miko Sheridan, Agriculture Food & Marine No.1
- Steve Pilgrim, Ordnance Survey
On Friday members passed motions on annual leave and on Gaeltacht Irish language courses.
A number of motions on AI were debated. Delegates emphasised the need to protect jobs, the importance of the ethical and transparent implementation of AI and called for training on AI literacy.
Motions on health and safety covered the full range of health risks at work and demonstrated the very real safety issues members face, from antisocial behaviour to bullying and psychosocial hazards. “Everyone has the right to feel safe at work”.
As conference closed outgoing Chair Helen Linehan was thanked for her leadership, fairness, and dedication to members. Helen paid tribute to members, the DEC and staff and wished the new DEC the very best for their new term.
Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.
