The Government must immediately commit to refund the additional childcare costs that essential health workers have incurred since schools and crèches closed on 12^th March, according to Fórsa.

The union’s statement followed Wednesday’s (13^th May) announcement that the Government had cancelled plans to provide childcare for essential health workers.

This came less than a week after the scheme was belatedly unveiled, and leaves staff struggling to balance responsibilities to their children and the public.

A Fórsa spokesperson said: “It’s now nine weeks since schools and crèches were closed. At that time, the Government promised it would help essential health workers, thousands of whom have since incurred massive additional childcare costs in order to continue serving the public.

“The only practical solution now – to do right by staff and maximise the numbers available in our hospitals and community health settings – is for the Government to agree to meet the additional costs that essential health workers have incurred.”

Prior to the announcement, Fórsa was seeking full details of the proposed scheme, which had been unveiled by children’s minister Katherine Zappone last week.

In particular, the union had queried what measures would be put in place if too few childcare providers stepped up for the voluntary scheme. The shortage of volunteers was subsequently cited as the reason for the scheme’s failure.

As things stand, limited measures to ease childcare problems remain in place. 

Under the Government’s ‘roadmap for reopening society and the economy,’ a phased reopening of crèches, childminding and pre-school facilities for essential workers is set to begin on 29^th June. But observers are questioning whether this will be sufficient.

Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, has said adequate staffing will be needed to make a success of the HSE’s proposed model of ongoing coronavirus testing and contact tracing.

He was speaking after HSE chief executive Paul Reid outlined the need for ongoing testing and tracing in the absence of a vaccine or effective treatment for the virus. Mr Reid said there were huge costs associated with any new system, and that proposals and costings were currently being considered by the Government.

Éamonn said that, despite the costs involved, expense shouldn’t be spared when it comes to providing staff with the necessary skills to operate it.

“Everyone agrees that the transition back to normality will have to be slow and carefully managed in order to minimise further risk. So we can’t put people in danger by rushing the roll-out of this new system before staff are properly equipped to operate it, he said.

Éamonn said the health service was about to move into a new phase following the first impact of the virus, and that a longer-term approach now needed to be developed.

“At the outset, workplaces had to adapt quickly in reaction to the pandemic, and health workers were disproportionately affected by this. It will take a while to return to life as we knew it. In the interim, we need cooperation between unions and employers to determine next steps.

“There were instances where staff went above and beyond the call of duty to fight the initial stages of the virus. But this cannot become the new normal. Any changes to staff terms and conditions required to operate a new testing and tracing system must be collectively agreed. While temporary reallocation of staff was acceptable and necessary for a time, it can’t continue indefinitely,” he said. 

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) will have to sign-off plans for the new testing and tracing system. It is believed to be examining the potential costs based on levels of demand for the remainder of the year.

Workers who wish to join Fórsa can to do so using a new ‘join online’ function on the union’s website.

Going live with the new system follows several months of research, preparation and testing aimed at making it easier than ever to join the union. It also goes live as the union continues to process a large number of new membership applications, as interest in joining the union has surged since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis.

Fórsa’s general secretary Kevin Callinan commented: “The current crisis has created the necessity to be able to carry out our business in different ways. Work on this project had commenced before the Covid-19 crisis took hold, and its completion marks a vital step as we tackle the challenges of living in changed times.

“We can see that more people want to join a union in response to what’s happening in the wider economy. It’s vital that they can take those initial steps quickly and easily, and making the membership application process more accessible is part of that process.

“This is a crucial new venture to enable Fórsa to substantially increase our membership - and to strengthen the union’s hand - at a critical time in the union’s development,” he said.

The online facility is a streamlined and simplified membership application process, and will be the quickest and easiest way to join the union. All incoming applications will continue to be subject to check-off and approval by Fórsa branches and the national executive committee, while the new online system is designed to ease the administrative burden on branches.

You can join Fórsa online at https://join.forsa.ie/

Fórsa is here to protect you if you have problems arising from the coronavirus or other workplace issues. The best way to contact the union at this time is HERE.

We will deal with queries as quickly as we can but, needless to say, the union will prioritise cases where members’ jobs and incomes are at immediate risk – as well as any serious health and safety issues that may arise.

Fórsa has cancelled all face-to-face meetings for the time being. The union is redeploying its staff to prioritise engagement with management on proposals arising from the Covid-19 public health crisis, and to provide rapid and efficient responses to members’ queries and concerns.

Fórsa's main phone line (01 817 1500) is now open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively members can use the Contact Us page on the Fórsa website to submit queries directly to the relevant division within Fórsa and this remains the most efficient way to access advice directly.

Wherever possible, Fórsa staff have been equipped to work remotely. Therefore, members should not attend Fórsa offices at this time. If you have a query or concern, the best way to raise it is to contact the union HERE.

Fórsa has updated its advice on coronavirus-related work issues for civil servants and staff in the wider public service. The advice covers attendance at work (including for pregnant workers and those with health vulnerabilities), salary protections for those self-isolating, temporary staff transfers, childcare and more.  Read it HERE.

Almost half of Ireland’s workers have had their employment circumstances changed by the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than a third now working from home, according to new Central Statistics Office (CSO) data.

And the Government’s recently published ‘roadmap for reopening society and business’ suggests that many of us will continue to work remotely for some time.

With this in mind, we sought advice from the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) about how workers can keep healthy during this longer-than-expected period of remote working.

Routine

Our office routine is not going to be the same when working from home.  We have no commute, no physical water-cooler chats, and probably no morning trip to our usual coffee shop.

However, it’s important to think about the parts of our office routine that are beneficial, such as the fresh air we get on our commute, or the break from our desks when we go to the kitchen.

We should find ways to incorporate the healthy parts of our old routines into our new way of living, such as going for a walk in the morning, having a coffee in the garden, or stretching our legs and getting away from our desks for five minutes every so often.

Exercise

We know that being active is good for our physical health, but our mental health can also see significant benefits.  People who engage in regular exercise generally experience an increased feeling of wellbeing, and getting the blood pumping can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

As we get older, keeping active can boost our health in areas such as osteoporosis, reducing blood pressure levels, protecting the heart and protecting against certain cancers.

CSEAS recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, five times a week, for all adults. When working from home, it may be helpful to schedule some exercise time into the day.

It is important to remember that at this uncertain time, exercise can help us cope with stress and give us a welcome break from work, as we adjust to our new routine.

Self-care

There is a tendency to ease up on good eating habits when we feel stressed, isolated, lonely or down. Research shows however, that good nutrition during challenging circumstances actually fortifies us.

CSEAS suggests following a proper diet, sleep and exercise regime, where possible when working from home. Incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables, and keeping on top of our water intake will help with our concentration and general health.

Learning to breathe

CSEAS suggests including other wellbeing habits such as mindfulness, meditation and breathing exercises into our routine. In particular, the employee assistance service recommends the ‘7-11 Breathing Exercise’, which involves breathing in through the nose for a count of seven (fill up your tummy with air) and breathing out through the mouth for a count of eleven.

Alternatively, why not take part in virtual mindfulness exercises or join online yoga classes, many of which are currently being offered for free due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Breathing techniques and mindfulness can be useful in decreasing anxiety but, like all new habits, can take a little getting used to. With practice however, they can be part of an overall calmness and wellbeing routine.

More information on the supports offered by the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service can be found here.

Providing adequate childcare for essential employees is critical to Ireland’s response to the coronavirus, according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

The study says over a fifth of the Irish workforce are essential workers, and that 100,000 of them have children under the age of 14. It criticises Government proposals to provide childcare to 5,000 health workers as inadequate.

Essential employees during the Covid-19 crisis says most essential workers are concentrated in low-paid sectors like retail and non-professional health grades, and says they can’t afford extra childcare costs.

Some 80% of essential workers also have a partner that works, 20% have a partner who is also an essential worker, and 9% are lone parents. Nearly 70% of essential workers are women.

Paul Redmond who co-authored the report, said the proposed weekly fee of €90 for state-supported childcare could be a struggle for the essential workers in lower-paid health jobs.

Fórsa, which represents over 30,000 health workers, has been seeking a solution to the issue of childcare provision for essential staff since schools and crèches were closed on 12th March.

The union favours direct childcare provision for essential staff, or a payment to meet the additional costs incurred by individuals who made their own childcare arrangements after schools and crèches closed.

The ESRI report, which was completed before the Government made its recent announcement, was also critical of the lack of direct provision.

“Unlike other countries, such as the UK, there has not yet been direct government provision for the childcare needs of essential employees in Ireland. Furthermore, given that many essential workers are concentrated in lower paid occupations, the capacity of many such employees to pay for additional childcare services is likely to be substantially constrained.

“Therefore, facilitating adequate childcare for these essential employees is critical to ensure that we can continue to respond to the crisis,” it says.

Read the report HERE.

Fórsa yesterday (Thursday) sought commitments over the enforcement of social distancing and other Covid-19 safety measures when libraries begin to open from 8^th June.

In a meeting with employer representatives, the union raised a range of safety concerns including the supervision of young library users, cleaning of premises and books, controlling the numbers entering libraries, queuing arrangements, signage, and protective screens.

Fόrsa said library management was also obliged to meet the health guidelines agreed between unions, employers and the Government at national level last week, in order to minimise the risk of exposing library staff and users to the coronavirus.

During yesterday’s meeting, the Local Government Management Agency, which represents council employers, recognised that library services required specific safety measures, and said it did not envisage a full return to library services in early June.

The union will now set out its concerns in writing after meetings with national representatives from its two library vocational groups next week.

Libraries are set to reopen “with numbers limited, social distancing observed, and strict hand hygiene on entry” next month, under phase two of the Government’s recently-published ‘roadmap for a return to work.’

Following the announcement, Fórsa called for the special meeting of the Local Authority National Council, an employer-union negotiating forum chaired by a senior Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) official.

Fórsa national secretary Peter Nolan said the union wanted to see library buildings reopened as soon as possible. But he said it must be done in a way that’s consistent with public health guidelines and health and safety legislation.

“Our members have concerns about enforcing social distancing, the supervision of young library users, the cleaning of premises and books, and controlling the numbers entering and exiting libraries,” he said.

The union is insisting that employers’ proposals to deal with these issues are set out well in advance of library re-opening.

Mr Nolan said libraries would also have to abide by the ‘return to work safety protocol,’ recently agreed between unions, employers and the Government. This aims to underpin workers’ safety as staff migrate back to workplaces, and says every work location must have an agreed employee representative for Covid-19 safety arrangements.

Local authority libraries have continued to provide electronic library services to the public throughout the pandemic, with some services providing selected deliveries to members of the public.

Read the Fórsa guidelines HERE.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has stressed the importance of including people with disabilities in the national response to Covid-19.

At a recent online meeting, ICTU’s disability committee called on all State agencies to adhere to their obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). 

This includes making information on testing and access to services available in accessible formats, and involving people with disabilities in decisions about their healthcare. ICTU also says the State should recognise any increased costs connected to their disability that arise during the pandemic.

Fórsa official Billy Hannigan said people with disabilities endured disproportionate austerity after previous economic shocks.

“Following the 2008 financial crisis, disability services were among the first to be cut. We are adamant that this cannot happen in the post-Covid-19 recovery period. That goes for the people who depend on disability services, and the people who deliver them,” he said.

With unemployment now at over 28%, it will be even harder for people with disabilities to get decent work.

“The way we work has changed in recent months, with facilities for remote working becoming far more widespread. This presents an opportunity to foster greater participation in the labour force for all,” he said.

Read the ICTU statement HERE.