Feature Article
Fórsa adopts sustainability policy
by Diarmaid Mac a Bhaird

A new sustainability policy, outlining actions the union is taking to reduce its impact on the environment is available on the Fórsa website. The policy was formally ratified by the union’s National Executive (NEC) in late September.


A new sustainability policy, outlining actions the union is taking to reduce its impact on the environment is available on the Fórsa website. The policy was formally ratified by the union’s National Executive (NEC) in late September.

 

Reducing the use of paper, eliminating unnecessary travel (particularly by air) for work purposes where viable alternatives exist and lowering energy consumption in union offices are among the policy’s commitments.

 

Other measures include ensuring associates take account of sustainability issues in their contracted work and continued engagement with environmental organisations and community activism on the climate crisis.

 

Fórsa president Ann McGee welcomed the ratification of the policy. “Fórsa is an organisation with a wide reach and influence to enact positive change in our society, and this policy is a significant statement of our commitment to take action to address the climate crisis.”

 

Deputy general secretary Matt Staunton said the policy is something the union can be proud of. “This is an important piece of work and a set of guiding principles for changing how we work, to develop a more sustainable and environmentally conscious approach to everything we do,” he said.

 

The policy document sets out the scope, principals and practical steps being taken to reduce the impact work practices in Fórsa have on the environment, and applies to all Fórsa staff and buildings.

 

See the full policy HERE.

Also in this issue
Local authorities update
by Hazel Gavigan

Job evaluation scheme stalled

 

The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) has indicated they will not participate in a resumed Labour Court hearing on Fórsa’s claim for an agreed job evaluation scheme in the local government sector.

 

The divisional executive committee requested for the LGMA to explain their position, given they have already participated in a Labour Court hearing on the dispute.

 

The division noted that if the employers persist with their position, they would be terminating their use of the agreed industrial relations procedures of the state and in those circumstances, it would be difficult for the union to rule out industrial action.

 

Louth libraries dispute

 

A dispute in Louth County Council’s library section has been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission following a ballot by members to take industrial action.

 

The dispute relates to transfer policies and failure to make progress on the County Libraries Workforce Plan.

 

Remunicipalising Waste Services

 

Fórsa has welcomed a process to explore the prospect of bringing household waste services back into public control in Dublin City Council (DCC).

 

The union met with a new sub-committee of DCC councillors in early September, on the back of the ‘More Power to You’ campaign, after councillors from a broad political spectrum had brought motions relating to the remunicipalising of waste disposal services to DCC.

 

The sub-committee is due to report back to DCC in November

School secretaries dispute heads to WRC
by Niall Shanahan
 

Fórsa and the Department of Education are due to convene under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for talks to resolve the ongoing dispute over the pay and conditions of grant-paid school secretaries.

 

In a lengthy Dáil debate last week the Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD opened with a demand that current industrial action by school secretaries be suspended before agreeing to participate in WRC discussions.

 

However, by the conclusion of the debate the demand was dropped, and Fórsa immediately welcomed the opportunity to work to resolve the issues at the heart of this dispute.

 

Speaking to reporters Fórsa’s Head of Education Andy Pike described events as “a dramatic turnaround.”

 

"We have the unusual situation of the education minister opening up the debate in the House at 5.30pm saying that the government wouldn't go to the WRC and closing the debate at 7.15pm by changing his mind and saying they would,” he said.

 

Support

 

The Dáil debate witnessed significant support from Opposition benches from a range of party and independent TDs.

 

Dublin South Central TD Joan Collins encouraged school secretaries to join Fórsa, and criticised the Minister’s opening demands to stand down their industrial action:

 

“School secretaries know from experience that if they and Fórsa accede to this request, they will be drawn back into a process with no conclusion in sight.

 

“They want to get this dealt with. They want to go into 2020 in the knowledge that they are direct employees of the State. That is their bottom line,” she said.

 

First step

 

Andy Pike said the union welcomed the broad support for school secretaries and the opportunity to get into talks: “This is the first positive step towards resolving this issue and making sure that secretaries across the school sector are paid fairly.

 

“We want to ensure school secretaries and caretakers are afforded the opportunity to work in a system that properly reflects their huge value to the school community,” he said.

 

School secretary members are continuing to engage in a work to rule which has withdrawn school secretaries from work on public service systems and databases on the basis that, because they are not paid or recognised as public servants, they will refuse to carry out the functions of public servants.

 

The action is designed to cause significant disruption to the administration of the schools sector without affecting students or parents.

 

Ahead of the Dáil debate last week, Andy had written to the department seeking a commitment to utilise the services of the WRC to resolve the dispute, and said the department had now had sufficient time to analyse the returns from their survey of school principals.

 

A date for talks to commence at the WRC is expected to be known shortly.

  

Galway Branch march against racism
by Roisin McKane
 

There was strong representation by Fórsa’s Galway branch at a recent anti-racism rally in Galway City on 28th September.

 

The march, organised by the Galway Anti-Racism Network (GARN) sought to unify the community against rising racism, and oppose direct provision.

 

Union branch activists, community groups and local representatives met the residents of the Great Western Direct Provision Centre before marching through the city to the Eglington Direct Provision Centre in Salthill.

 

Fórsa official Pádraig Mulligan spoke briefly at the event, in support of colleagues in GARN, and opposing racism.

 

“We want to show solidarity with our community here in Galway” said Pádraig.

 

“Galway is the city of the tribes, a multicultural city. No matter where you’re from you’re always welcome here and we will not tolerate racist behaviour in this town” he said.

 

For more information on GARN click here.

Save the Date: Traveller Network Event
by Niall Shanahan

Fórsa Trade Union’s Equality Committee will launch the Traveller Network event on the 9th November in Sligo Town Hall at 11am.

 

Speakers on the day include James O’Leary, CEO of INVOLVE and Martin Ward of the Galway Traveller Movement. Further speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

The launch of the Traveller Network follows on from the launch of previous Fórsa Equality Committee networks, including the Fórsa Women’s Activist Network and the Disability Network.

 

Fórsa official Lisa Connell explained: “The purpose of the event is to highlight many of the issues that affect Travellers in the workplace, including the depth of structural inequalities facing travellers from accessing the workplace, as well as socio-economic rights and a focus on public policy provisions.

 

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Fórsa members and Traveller representatives to meet and discuss these issues,” she said.

 

For further information about the event please contact Lisa Connell.