Fórsa has called on its members to attend the Rally for Unity and Hope in Dublin on Saturday, 23rd November. The event, organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), will take place at the Larkin Statue on O’Connell Street, with the aim of countering division and hate within Irish society in the run up to the election. 
 
“I am asking those in the trade union movement to ensure we have a strong presence of activists from unions across our movement at this rally, to show that all unions stand together in solidarity. Together, let us demonstrate that compassion and unity are stronger than division and hatred. Join us as we rally for a future of inclusion, strength, and unwavering unity," said Owen Reidy, ICTU general secretary ahead of the rally. 
 
Kevin Callinan, general secretary of Fórsa, emphasised the union’s commitment to inclusivity. "Our union has always fought for equality in public services and across society. Every day our members work for the good of all people in our country, whether they’re on the front line of community health services, working in schools, offices, libraries, cleaning our cities, and everywhere else our union is active.” 
 
Fórsa members in libraries have faced harassment, threats, and even forced closures due to protests, with incidents like book burnings and personal attacks on staff. Earlier this week, research published from UCD’s School of Information & Communication Studies revealed widespread fears for safety, particularly in rural libraries, where staff are sometimes alone.  
 
“Why now people are asking – well the demonstration is taking place a year to the day from the riots which left Dublin covered in broken glass and scarred with flames.  It was our members in the Municipal Employees’ Division who had to clean that up and it’s our people in the libraries that are so often viciously targeted by these attention seeking hate peddlers.  This is no longer just internet ugliness and trolls, it’s affecting our workplaces - so let’s show these members we have their back,” implored Kevin.  
 
Callinan further stressed Fórsa’s rejection of any divisive influences in workplaces or communities. "Fórsa members have been increasingly affected by groups seeking to sow division and hate in our workplaces and communities. We know that there are people who want to blame the challenges in our society on people who are different, when instead better public services and improved pay and conditions at work would make our country a fairer place for everyone.” 
 
Members planning to attend are invited to gather at the union’s headquarters at Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1, from 12:15 pm, where refreshments will be available. The group will depart at 12:45 pm to walk together to the main rally location. While registration is not required, members are encouraged to RSVP to assist with planning. Fórsa also urges members to help amplify the rally’s message by sharing details on social media.  
 
“Let’s make sure we show that Fórsa members stand united for public services: provided by all, to the benefit of all,” Callinan added. 

You don’t have to register to join us, but it would be helpful to have an idea of numbers so if you’re planning to come you can let us know here.

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Fórsa is conducting a survey to gain a more comprehensive understanding of LGBTQI+ members' experiences, both in and out of the workplace, and members still have time to take part.

This survey aims to provide objective statistical analysis to help inform our upcoming Fórsa Equality seminar, taking place on Wednesday 27th November 2024. The survey also sets out to inform policy and procedures when raising such matters with respective employers.

The trade union movement has long been a shining light of support for LGBTQI+ people and has been instrumental in battling discrimination and fighting for equality for the LGBTQI+ community. 

In 1982 LGPSU activist Kieran Rose brought a motion to an ICTU conference supporting the decriminalisation of homosexual acts on the basis of equality, and calling for equality legislation. This was the first motion if its kind, thus sparking hard fought trade union campaigns, spanning decades, which further improved the rights of LGBTQI+ people. 

Over 40 years later, at Fórsa’s biennial Conference in May 2024, delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion proposed by the Galway Health and Local Government branch, instructing the incoming National Executive Committee to establish a LGBTQI+ network to support all members and staff who identify as a member of the LGBTQI+ community. 

Fórsa will formally mark the establishment of the Fórsa LGBTQI+ network, and launch “Trade Unions and Progress, a personal history” by Kieran Rose at the union’s Equality Seminar. Places are limited and branches will be facilitated on a first come first serve basis. Early registration is encouraged.

Members interested in attending should speak to their branch and register their attendance here. 

If you require any further information, please contact Róisín McKane at rmckane@forsa.ie. 

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Hot Press Books has announced the publication of Power To The People (The Hot Press Years) by Michael D. Higgins. The book is a collection of the powerful columns the future President wrote for Hot Press between 1983 and 1993, covering a huge range of the big issues of the time, including US foreign policy in South and Central America.

The author's royalties for the book – which is dedicated to the late Sally O’Neill Sanchez – will go to the Irish aid agency Trócaire, with whom Sally worked. 

The President said the discipline of writing that fortnightly piece for Hot Press required him to stand back and reflect deeply on the history and context of what he was doing, and why: "I put my heart and soul into the writing, developing and refining what I hoped to be a sense of immediate, human urgency. 

“The full interaction of my work as a concerned politician and activist was informed by what I was writing.  I am so glad to have had that opportunity – and it moves me greatly to have that work brought together now for everyone to see and read – and hopefully to enjoy," he said.

Hot Press editor Niall Stokes added: “Michael D's column was wide-ranging and free of conventional media constraints. It could be devastatingly critical on the one hand, and open-minded, warm and inspiring on the other.

“But it always reflected the deeply-felt commitment to human rights and to the equality agenda that would ultimately see Ireland modernise in the most impressive way socially and culturally. That makes it an essential document of modern Ireland in-the-making,” he said.

The hardback edition, signed by the author, is available only in a special limited edition, on pre-sale now.

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This general election Fórsa is calling on parties and candidates to support our vision of a society that works for workers.

Friday 29th November, voting day, is an opportunity for public sector workers to demand a society that delivers a decent quality of life for all workers, offers accessible, high quality public services, and which provides a secure future in the face of climate change and advancing technology with regards to AI.

All of these demands are outlined in our general election manifesto which presents policy proposals to strengthen public services and enhance the working lives of our members. You can read it on our election hub here. 

Earlier this year, more than 20,000 of you shared your priorities with us, highlighting the issues you want us to campaign on in the lead up to the election and during the lifetime of the next government.

These priorities are:

• Meaningful pay increases, that go beyond inflation, that reward workers for their commitment to public service.
• The protection of remote and hybrid working arrangements, and a commitment to piloting the four-day week in the public sector, without loss of pay.
• Investment in high quality public services, including community healthcare, publicly funded childcare, and availability of reliable public transport. 

These issues affect all of us, and if addressed, would not only improve the lives of our members, but also strengthen public services and deliver widespread benefits for workers, service-users, and society. 

Members can send a strong message to all political parties by taking part in our email campaign. It takes just ten seconds to tell them what you want. Click here. 
You can also print this poster and use the question on it when election candidates knock on your door, so that you'll know if they support our priorities. Download it here. 

The pivotal role of our members in the education sector is highlighted in our campaigns as we strive for better working conditions and improved training opportunities for SNAs, access to pensions for school secretaries and caretakers, an end to precarious employment in School Completion Programmes, and a job evaluation scheme to technological universities and institutes of technology. 

We are seeking commitment to: 

• Complete the review of the national SNA Contract for the start of the academic year in September 2025.
• Confirm that the new minimum essential qualification for SNAs will be set at QQI Level 6.
• Continue funding the National SNA Training Programme and introduce a funding model for SNAs to access continuing professional development training.
• Provide access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme for School Secretaries and Caretakers.
• Confirm a new employment framework for School Completion Programmes, including the introduction of a single employment structure within ETBs and granting of public service status to all those working within School Completion Programmes.
• Implement a job evaluation scheme for Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology, alongside an appropriate funding model to allow this scheme to be fully realised. 

Reminder! Don’t forget to register for school secretaries and caretakers pension campaign launch, register here.

On Saturday 23rd November at 10am school secretaries and caretakers will launch their campaign calling for fair pensions.

Urging members to attend chair of the school secretaries branch Luisa Carty said: “Without school secretaries and caretakers schools around the country couldn’t function. We keep the places running, and we’re proud of the role we play in the education system. Everyone who works in a school should have the same pension rights.”

After years of campaigning and lengthy negotiations Fórsa school secretaries won a pay agreement in 2022 which led to significant and much needed pay increases for thousands of secretaries. 

Since September 2023 members are now paid directly by the Department of Education, however they still don’t have the same public service pension entitlements as teachers and SNAs.

This phase of the campaign will include a pension claim for our members who are school caretakers as well. While negotiations on a new pay agreement for caretakers are ongoing, the employers refuse to discuss public service pensions. 

 Andy Pike, head of Fórsa’s education division “We have to build a campaign that shows just how unfair the current situation is. The Minister for Education now sets the terms and conditions for all school employees, yet secretaries and caretakers are denied access to the same pension arrangements as their colleagues.”

“By running a joint campaign we mean to send a clear message that school support staff are an equal part of the school community and shouldn’t be given different terms and conditions.”

Andy continued “The general election campaign is well underway now and we want to make sure candidates now how big an issue this is. It’s time to end the pension discrimination that exists in schools across Ireland.”

At the campaign launch on Saturday 23rd November members will hear what’s planned for the campaign and receive further information on how to lobby your local parents’ association, how to seek pledges of support from local community organisations and more.  

Register to attend here.

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Fórsa officials have requested a conciliation hearing from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in relation to assault leave provisions for SNAs. 
Over the past 24 months officials have been engaged in extensive discussions on the issue of assault leave.

Fórsa assistant general secretary Shane Lambert expressed disappointment, saying: “We made suggestions on how to expand on some of the provisions which would alleviate many of the issues encountered by members on the ground. But despite all the effort from our side, the department has not taken any of our suggestions on board.”  

Shane flatly rejected the department’s stance on the issue. He said “At the last IR forum they stated that they saw this as more of an employer/management issue. We do not accept this.” 

“We believe the department has a greater role to play with health and safety. They need to provide increased guidance and support to schools and school management” he continued.

The Department of Education has been engaging with teachers’ unions separately on the issue of an Occupational Injury Scheme. They have indicated their intention to discuss the issue with Fórsa following completion of discussions with teachers’ unions.

Shane said “This is a delicate issue, and we should be included in such discussions from the start. SNAs are often reminded that they are a separate and distinct grade from teachers when we raise inequalities and disparities in conditions, so the department should not take for granted that we will accept whatever is agreed with teaching colleagues by default.”

“We cannot delay acting on this any further, as time passes while we discuss things SNAs are being injured in the workplace and are not being supported appropriately by these inadequate provisions, so we have now referred the provisions on assault leave as well as general health and safety to the WRC for discussion.”

Included in the referral is a claim to amend health and safety leave for pregnant SNAs to ensure equal provision to teacher and education colleagues. This was another claim put forward by the union, seeking to amend the health and safety leave available for pregnant SNAs to afford them identical provisions to their teaching colleagues, however this claim was also rejected by the department.

Shane concluded “Being an SNA can often be dangerous, given it is a physically demanding role.  However, it should not mean that is an accepted fact that injuries and assaults occur. More must be done to mitigate the risks and to consistently improve the level of safety.  Many SNAs have seen an increasing frequency of incidents and assaults in classrooms. We need to do whatever we can to secure their safety in the classroom and secure better supports for them should the worst happen.”

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Following an extensive engagement between Fórsa and the Department of Education an agreement has been reached on the transfer of all School Completion Programme (SCP) staff to direct employment within the Education and Training Boards. 

The agreement recognises the need to provide a secure future for the school completion programmes and the 500 staff employed to provide vital services for school students.

Currently most of the school completion programmes are funded through TUSLA with local management committees responsible for employing staff and managing administration. The need to provide a more secure and stable future for the SCPs has been consistently highlighted by Fórsa since 2015. 

In the new agreement the Department of Education recognises that the current structure is no longer fit for purpose and states that the preferred model for the future of the school completion programmes is the transfer to direct employment within the ETB sector. 

Work will now commence on a feasibility study to identify the costs associated with the transfer, with a view to securing the necessary funding in the 2026 Budget. 

Fórsa’s head of Education Andy Pike welcomed the new agreement, saying: “It will provide the necessary certainty and security for the SCP service and for the staff who work tirelessly to improve opportunities for vulnerable students within our schools.”

Andy underlined that “For far too long the school completion programme has been cut adrift without a viable home within the mainstream public service. Transfer to the ETB sector will provide a safe and secure structure for the future. Whilst the agreement does not confer public service status for those SCP staff employed on local contracts, it does take us a step closer to that objective and secures the entitlements of the minority of SCP staff who are existing public servants.” 

Andy concluded: “Work will continue to align terms and conditions of employment for Fórsa members working within the school completion programme. I wish to express sincere thanks to the SCP Branch for their active engagement in this process.”

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Just weeks after school communities around the country rallied for Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Day, an issue has emerged that further signals the unequal treatment these workers face when weighed up against other education colleagues. 
 
Fórsa has lodged a claim requesting that SNAs elected as county or city councillors receive paid leave on terms no less favourable than those of teachers and other education staff working within the Department, allowing them to fulfil their council duties and attend meetings.  
 
In response, the Department of Education has offered SNAs 10 days of unpaid leave with substitution, contrasting with teachers, who receive 10 days of paid leave without a substitute. The Department justifies this disparity by citing the national agreements' provision against cost-increasing claims. 
 
“We know SNAs are the backbone of our schools, and they play essential roles in classrooms – however it should not automatically mean that they should be financially disadvantaged when fulfilling civic responsibilities.

In a response to the Department, Fórsa pointed out that the discrepancy between paid leave for teachers and unpaid leave for SNAs is not only inequitable but could also be seen as obstructing the democratic process,” said Shane Lambert of Fórsa’s education division.  
 
The union stated that the offer was unsatisfactory and could be perceived as an attack or obstruction of the political process, as it places obstacles in the way of democratically elected members performing their duty.    
 
“We stated that we would not be accepting the creation of such a disparity which was simply unjust and unfair, in particular when we are fighting to eliminate these types of disparities in general. Whilst it further highlights the pivotal role that SNAs hold in our classrooms, as they must be substituted when not present, it is not reasonable for SNAs, and the pupils they work with, to suffer to their detriment on foot of the lack of capacity within the system to accommodate such absences, which will be few and far between, the Department can and must  put provisions in place to ensure this does not happen.” said Shane Lambert.  
 
The union highlighted the ability for minor claims like this to be permitted under the national agreement,  providing the letter from Colin Menton, deputy general secretary with the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery & Reform (DEPNDR).
 
“Fórsa is extremely proud to have several members who put themselves forward for election. We are bang smack in the middle of the general election campaign, this issue couldn’t be more “live” when we have SNAs who were elected in the local elections earlier this year, encountering difficulties when trying to fulfil their roles, so, Fórsa has escalated the matter to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), seeking a resolution that aligns SNA leave entitlements with those of teachers. The union remains committed to ensuring that SNAs who serve their communities in elected roles are not disadvantaged by policies that inhibit their capacity to engage in public service,” said Andy Pike, national secretary of Fórsa.
  

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This winter the Fórsa Skills Academy have some fantastic training opportunities for members.

‘Lunch and Learn’ will return on the last Friday of the month as usual. The next session will look at the ins and outs of the BDS campaign and how members can best take part. Meanwhile applications have opened for Level 2 Workplace Representatives’ Training taking place in Cork in January. A crucial course for workplace reps who want to make a positive impact on their workplace.

Lunch & Learn - Using the International Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) campaign as a tool of solidarity – Online - 29th November 

Live Lunch and Learn is Fórsa’s monthly offering to members, covering a wide variety of topics of interest to members.

This month’s topic will be using the International Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) campaign as a tool of solidarity. 

The contributors will explain the aims and reasoning behind the BDS movement, as well as informing and educating members on the role they can play as part of Fórsa’s policy concerning BDS and the struggle for peace and justice in the region.

BDS is a movement that relies on the support and engagement of individual people. Members will be glad to hear this session will lay out how they can best take part. There will also be an opportunity for members to hear what actions they can take themselves to campaign for the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill.

This session will take place on Friday 298th November, from 1pm-2pm. Registration is open and available here.

To learn more about BDS visit here.

Level 2 Workplace Representatives’ Training - Cork - 8th and 9th January

Applications for Level 2 Workplace Representatives’ Training opened this week. This training is key for workplace reps looking to be effective in their role. The course teaches skills and knowledge crucial to workplace organising, such as mapping the workplace, individual representation for members, equality & diversity, health and safety, and more.

The course is in three parts over four days. All parts must be completed in order to progress on to further training. 

To be eligible for this training applicants must 

• Be a workplace representative.
• Have completed Level 1 Workplace Representatives’ Training
• Confirmed their application with their branch chairperson and Fórsa assigned official

For Workplace Representatives’ Training the registration link is sent the Branch Chairpersons, Secretaries and Training Officers. Members interested in this training should contact their Branch Officers directly.

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Fórsa launched its manifesto at its General Election event at the union’s head office yesterday.

The event, which was attended by Fórsa members and political representatives from across the country, focused on improved pay for workers, protection of remote work and the introduction of a four-day week, and the provision and availability of high-quality, world-class public services.

While not aligned to any political party Fórsa’s election manifesto reflects the concerns of Fórsa members and the policies they wish to see implemented by the next Government.

Speaking at the launch, Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said successful trials of a four-day week in the private sector provided a compelling opportunity to have a conversation with Government about agreeing areas where it would be possible to trial a four day week in the public sector.

Fórsa’s director of campaigns Grace Williams explained that the response to the union’s commissioned survey by Amárach had informed the development of the manifesto, with an ‘overwhelming’ 20,000 responses providing rich data on the views of Fórsa’s membership.

Presenting the manifesto to the event, Fórsa’s policy officer Aisling Cusack described the three core issues as the “bread and butter” of the union agenda: “We know there's been decades of under investment in services. The ground that we need to make up now needs to happen, really, at scale and at pace. 

“We're looking for a real pay rise, one that goes beyond matching inflation and which rewards our workers for their commitment to delivering public services so they can enjoy a decent quality of life."

“We're also looking for the parties to make a real, strong commitment that they will engage with us on a successor to the current public service pay agreement,” she said.

Aisling also outlined the continuing difficulties arising from chronic underinvestment in local government, and the union’s determination to see waste collection services brought back into direct delivery by local authorities. 

Welcoming a forthcoming trial of municipalised waste collection by Dublin City Council (DCC), Aisling said the union will continue to work closely with DCC on the issue. She said the union would also continue to campaign for a referendum on the public ownership of water and the right to housing, items that had not been fulfilled despite being in the outgoing Government’s programme.

Yesterday’s event included a presentation by research company, Amárach, who conducted the survey of Fórsa members and informs the union manifesto. The event also featured a presentation of ongoing research by independent think-tank, TASC, on the future policy challenges for Irish governments.

You can read the full manifesto here.

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Fórsa members working at libraries across the country have reported feeling deeply impacted after being targeted by far-right agitators objecting to the presence of LGBTQ+ reading material, according to new research conducted by UCD’s School of Information & Communication Studies. 

Commissioned by LGBT Ireland and Fórsa, the report entitled Resisting Hate and Navigating Agitation: Perspective and Voices of Public Library Staff & Librarians Against Reactionary Responses to LGBTQ+ Materials, acknowledges the resilience and bravery of library workers, who since 2022, have been subjected to a coordinated campaign of abuse and harassment by agitators entering libraries and attempting to remove books they deem to be “inappropriate”.

Based on qualitative interviews with library workers this year, the research found that library staff experienced a “pervasive undercurrent of anxiety and unease” in their workplaces relating to agitation and disruption, which has been amplified by social media posts, media reporting, and accounts of incidents in other libraries, shared amongst colleagues and library networks. 

Workers also reported feelings of anger, frustration, stress, and trauma, caused either by direct experiences of being aggressively challenged by agitators in the library, or by the fear that it might happen to them in future.

One library worker interviewed said: “It's such a confrontational situation, and like there is somebody looking you straight in the face and calling you a child abuser. It's just really difficult to deal with in a way that I didn't appreciate was going to be, until I was in that situation. I would count myself as somebody who's quite resilient and quite able to deal with confrontation, but it was hard.”

Staff working in rural libraries especially reported fearing being physically attacked while they were the only staff member present while the demonstrations were taking place. To protect themselves in such situations, some rural libraries developed “buddy systems” with nearby libraries.

UCD researcher Dr Páraic Kerrigan, described how library workers established a network to alert other libraries that there is an agitator present, and someone from the buddy library will come to either relieve that staff member or to join them and help them so they are not alone. Páraic said "Access to diverse information is the foundation of a thriving democracy. Libraries stand as pillars of inclusion and knowledge, and any agitation and disruption of public libraries and their workers in providing LGBTQ+ materials is not merely an attack on these resources but an assault on democratic values themselves. Protecting the freedom to access information for all communities is essential to sustaining an open, informed, and inclusive society”

Speaking at the launch, Head of Fórsa’s Local Government and Local Services and Municipal Employees’ Division Richy Carrothers welcomed the report and said it helped members “feel heard”. 

“One of the most important elements of this report is that it amplifies the lived experiences of workers. Fórsa members say they feel heard. It's an evidence-based analysis of what is being done to them by anti-LGBTQ+ agitators," he said. 

Richy, who chaired the project steering committee that put Fórsa members at the heart of this research, went on to explain that libraries are community hubs for social integration, serving as centres of cultural, educational, and academic learning, and must be places free from harassment and intimidation for both staff and library users. 

“Library workers need to be protected from this harassment, our members are afraid for their safety in their workplace. We proudly represent hardworking library staff across Ireland who do integral work, including creating inclusive communities. We support our members and they feel supported by their union. An attack on a library worker is an attack on the vital public services they provided. We demand safety in libraries for workers and the people who use them. It is clear from the evidence that Fórsa remained the only consistent voice advocating for workers. Workers also stuck together and supported each other. That shows the power in the union,” he said.

The full report Resisting Hate and Navigating Agitation: Perspective and Voices of Public Library Staff & Librarians Against Reactionary Responses to LGBTQ+ Materials, can be accessed here.

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