It’s relatively quiet at this end of December so, in a break with tradition, we’re bringing you a single news round-up in this issue of the publication, as a supplement to our 5th December education bulletin.

Pay is back in the news as many education workers look forward to the January pay adjustment under the Public Service Stability Agreement.

But most school secretaries don’t benefit from this or other public service terms and conditions. They’ve announced a one-day strike and further industrial action next month after another insulting rebuke in talks over the decades-old two-tier pay system.

This all comes as the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) publishes its fourth report on chief executives’ pay, which reveals increases of between 9% and a staggering 99%. The average for the rest of us was less than 3% this year.

There’s exciting international news too, as a new survey reveals over 1,400 examples of privatised services being brought back into public control in over 58 countries across the globe.

Thanks to all of you who completed the recent survey on workplace harassment, which we reported on in the last issue. ICTU tells us that the response rate from Fórsa members was particularly high.

We can also report a generous response from the union’s members and branches to the Fórsa Youth Network’s annual Christmas quiz, which raised over €3,500 for the Transgender Equality Network Ireland. The union’s National Executive Committee has agreed to match that figure.

Ireland’s growing band of homeless families is also top of mind at this time of year, with well over 10,000 adults and children without a place to call home. ICTU spoke out on our behalf again earlier this month.

We’ll be back with all the news in the New Year. In the meantime, a very Happy Christmas from all of us in the Fórsa Communications Unit.

PS. Don’t forget that if you want your P60 from January, you now have to access it though Revenue’s online system, called myAccount.

“Since I was honoured to be appointed Fórsa general secretary earlier this year, I’ve made it my business to talk to as many branches, activists and members as time allows. More to the point, I’ve been listening.

This is particularly important as we head into a busy and highly significant new year, which will see a general election, the negotiation of the next public service pay agreement, and continued talks across the semi-state and private sector.

I have been adamant that Fórsa members must benefit fully from these negotiations and, early in my stewardship of the union, I made it clear that the restoration of working time would be a priority for this union in any talks.

This year, I’ve also set in train a comprehensive review of the union’s practices and procedures with a view to improving services to members, increasing our appeal to young people and other potential members, and strengthening our voice in local communities and national public and political debates.

This will be vital in the run-up to the coming general election, when I will be seeking your help to put the incomes and working conditions of Fórsa members firmly on the political agenda, along with important issues like housing and homelessness, our health services, workers’ rights including in education, pay restoration in the community and voluntary sector, and rebuilding local democracy and local services.

Next year will also see many challenges across the globe. Fórsa will continue to work with ICTU to protect workers and their communities from the impact of Brexit and to work in solidarity for justice, equality and peace here and around the world – including through our developing world fund.

But right now, I wanted to take this end-of-year opportunity to thank you for your continued membership of Fórsa, and for the support you’ve shown to our hard-working workplace representatives, who give up their time and effort to improve working life for our members. My heartfelt thanks to them too.

I wish you joy over the break, and hope you have a safe and happy Christmas. Then, working together, let’s do our best to ensure a successful and prosperous new year for working people here in Ireland and around the world.”

Kevin Callinan
Fórsa General Secretary

Civil and public servants are due to receive their next union-negotiated pay and pension levy boosts from 1st January.

Under the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA), the salary threshold at which staff pay the ‘additional superannuation contribution,’ formerly known as the pension levy, will increase from €32,000 to €34,500 a year. This will be worth €250 a year.

Those who earn less than €32,000 a year will see their pay increased by 0.5%.

The PSSA, which was negotiated by Fórsa and other unions in 2017, will also deliver another 2% salary adjustment for all in September. The deal expires next December.

The PSSA was accepted in ballots of the members of the three unions that amalgamated to create Fórsa earlier this year. It also saw the end of the pension levy on any non-pensionable elements of public service incomes from last January.

Non-pay provisions in the PSSA include strong protections against outsourcing.

Summary of income improvements

• 1st January 2018: 1% pay adjustment
• 1st October 2018: 1% pay adjustment
• 1st January 2019: Additional superannuation contribution threshold up from €28,750 to €32,000 (worth €325 a year). 1% pay increase for those who don’t benefit (ie, those earning less than €30,000 a year)
• 1st September 2019: 1.75% pay adjustment
• 1st January 2020: Additional superannuation contribution threshold increased to €34,500 (worth €250 a year). 0.5% pay increase for those who don’t benefit (ie, those earning less than €32,000 a year)
• 1st October 2020: 2% pay adjustment
• 31st December 2020: Agreement concludes.

Like many other workplaces, Fórsa offices will be closed at certain times over the forthcoming holiday. If we’re closed, you can leave a phone message and someone will get back to you as soon as we’re back.

Dublin: Nerney’s Court office

Monday 23rd December – Office open as normal.
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) – Closed from 1.00pm.
Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day) – Closed.
Thursday 26th December (St Stephen’s Day) – Closed.
Friday 27th December– Closed.
Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st December– Open between 10.00 am and 4.00pm.
Wednesday 1st January (New Year’s Day) – Closed.
Thursday 2nd January – Office reopens as normal.

Dublin: Woodford office, Santry

Monday 23rd December – Office open as normal.
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) – Closed from 1.00pm.
Wednesday 25th December – Friday 3rd January – Office closed.
Monday 6th January – Office reopens as normal.

Cork office

Office closes from Monday 23rd January and reopens Thursday 2nd January 2020.

Galway office

Office closes on Friday 20th December at 5pm and will re-open on Friday January 3rd 2020.
During this closed period, an emergency number will be in operation during normal office hours to deal with issues of an emergency nature only. This number is 085 800 3965.

Limerick office

Monday 23rd December – Office open as normal.
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) – Closed from 1.00pm.
Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day) – Closed.
Thursday 26th December (St Stephen’s Day) – Closed.
Friday 27th December– Closed.
Monday 30th December – Office open with limited cover until 4pm.
Tuesday 31st December 2019 – Office open with limited cover until 4pm.
Wednesday 1st January (New Year’s Day) – Closed.
Thursday 2nd January – Office reopens as normal.

Sligo office

Office closes lunchtime on Tuesday 24th December 2019 and reopens on Thursday 2nd January.

Fórsa has placed a lot of priority on mental health this year, so we wanted to acknowledge that the holiday season can be a stressful time when financial, social and family pressures risk wrecking some heads.

While you can't choose when Christmas comes, you can choose ways to help yourself through it. Here’s some advice from the HSE and Mental Health Ireland.  And remember that, if you need it, there’s help at the other end of a phone line from the Samaritans (phone 116123) and Yourmentalhealth.ie (phone 1800-742 444).