IALPA’s members at Emerald Airlines, which operates regional flights as Aer Lingus Regional, are balloting this week on an industrial relations agreement, following negotiations with the company.

Pilots engaged in industrial action during the summer months, in the form of a work-to-rule and a threatened stoppage during the August bank holiday, in response to the airline’s refusal to engage with the union.

The planned stoppage was suspended at the end of July to facilitate engagement with the company, which continued throughout August.

Fórsa and Emerald finalised an industrial relations agreement late last week. The new agreement requires ratification by a secret ballot of IALPA members at the airline. The ballot concludes later today, and the agreement has been recommended for acceptance.

Fórsa assistant general secretary Ian McDonnell said reaching agreement with Emerald marked a fresh and positive step toward better industrial relations at the airline: "If the agreement is accepted by members, the next challenge will be to successfully negotiate a collective agreement covering pilot pay and employment terms.

“The new industrial relations agreement commits the parties to that negotiation, and we look forward to proceeding with that process as soon as possible,” he said. 

Fórsa trade union, which represents pilots and winch crew at the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Aviation Service, will meet with officials from the Department of Transport today (Friday), about the union’s concerns in relation to the transfer of the State’s search-and-rescue contract to a new operator, Bristow Ireland Ltd.

The union contacted transport minister Eamon Ryan last week to express its concerns that the union was still waiting on confirmation from Bristow that pilots and winch crew would transfer in accordance with the 2003 EU Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) regulations.

In his response to Fórsa, the minister said his department “expects to see an orderly and seamless transfer of operations between both contractors,” a transition which he said is expected to take up to 24 months.

Fórsa national secretary Katie Morgan told the minister that, in the absence of any certainty on whether a TUPE process will apply as the new operator takes over, Coast Guard pilots and winch crew remain in an uncertain and precarious situation.

Katie added: “Given the urgency of the matter for pilots and winch crew at the Irish Coast Guard, and the precarious position our members are now facing, we would welcome your commitment to ensure TUPE will be applied as personnel transfer to the new contract holder, and to continue to provide this exemplary service to the State.”

The minister invited the union to meet with officials from the department to discuss the issue, and that meeting will take place later this morning, while a meeting with Bristow has been scheduled later in September.

In June this year CHC Ireland filed legal proceedings against the Government’s tendering process after it failed to secure a new contract, reported to be worth €670 million.

The ICTU group of unions, which consists of Fórsa, SIPTU, Connect & Unite, met with management this week to discuss pay, following the 10.25% 3-year pay offer being rejected by cabin crew and craft union members.

The pay proposal was accepted by ground staff; however the deal was rejected by both the craft group and cabin crew members.

The high rate of price inflation and operating profits of €40 million in the first half of 2023 is among what was raised at the meeting by the ICTU.

The group of unions are due to meet on Monday with management again to continue these negotiations.

Separately, IALPA members will be continuing discussions on pay under the Aer Lingus pilot pay tribunal later this month.

The Fórsa Youth Network will be hosting an event on the housing crisis “Locked Out: The Working Homeless”, at 6.30pm on Friday, September 29th in Nerney's Court.

A panel of industry experts will discuss the challenges facing young workers who cannot find anywhere to live, explore the impact of the housing crisis on workers, and discuss the action that can be taken by the trade union movement. 

This event is hosted by Fórsa's Youth Network however the event is open to members of all ages. 

Register here to attend this event.

Dear member, 

This time of year often brings with it a sense of renewed opportunity and plans for the months ahead, as schools reopen and holidays come to an end. Here at Fórsa we have a busy schedule of events open to all members, from trainings to seminars, between now and the end of year, which I hope that you will enjoy. 

A core focus of our work this Autumn will be negotiating a new national pay agreement for public sector workers. The extension of the Building Momentum agreement expires at the end of 2023, with the final pay instalment due on 1st October. 

While the review of the agreement in 2022 brought much needed pay increases, inflation continues to erode the pay of all workers, and the cost of everyday living is a constant challenge. Earlier this year, 99% of respondents to our members’ survey told us that negotiated pay rises must match inflation, and for many this was an issue on which they would be prepared to take industrial action. This message from you is a mandate for Fórsa.

While global events create some uncertainty, the Government is managing record budgetary surpluses. This provides a unique – if challenging - negotiating context for a successor to Building Momentum.  It is imperative now that a date for the beginning of pay talks is set. 

While many Fórsa members will have benefitted from a break over the summer months, a lot of activity continues, and significant progress was made on several issues in the past week. 

Thanks to progress made at the WRC planned industrial action was suspended in the health sector, where the union had served notice of industrial action in disputes over a career pathway review for health and social care professionals, and the recruitment pause on clerical admin and managerial grades in the HSE. Similarly, after several months of the employer refusing to negotiate with the union, Fórsa signed an industrial relations agreement last week with Emerald Airlines.

Disputes are also ongoing in relation to job evaluation in local authorities and Tusla, while Fórsa continues to work with other unions in attempts to resolve pay disparities for health workers in the community and voluntary sector, and those members are currently being balloted for industrial action. 

There have been notable wins in other areas, and I would like to particularly congratulate everyone involved in Fórsa’s School Secretaries campaign. This school year they finally have the recognition they deserve as they go back to school on the Department of Education payroll.

 
Our collective strength is in our members. This year our union membership has been growing across all divisions, and that growth empowers us when we negotiate on your behalf. To keep it going we need your help. 

The most effective thing you can do today to support your union is to ask your colleagues: ‘Have you joined the union yet?’. You can also download and print this poster to distribute or display in your workplace. 

Thank you for your continued support,

Kevin Callinan,

General Secretary,

Fórsa

Applications are now open for the 2024 Fórsa Gaeltacht grant scheme. 80 grants of €150 each are available to assist children of Fórsa members attending residential Irish language courses in Gaeltacht areas next summer. 

A further 40 grants of €70 are available to assist children to attend day-only Irish language courses held outside Gaeltacht areas. 

Children of Fórsa members, who are aged between 11 years and 18 years of age on 1st July 2024, are eligible to apply for the grant scheme. You can download the application form HERE.

Please note that in order to ensure as many children as possible can benefit from this scheme a child who received a scholarship in this scheme in 2023 is not eligible for receipt of the scholarship in 2024.  A list of winners in 2023 is available on the Fórsa website. Only one application per child is permissible. Multiple applications for the same child will not be considered. 

Applications must be received on or before 5.00pm on Friday October 6^th, 2023.  The draw will take place shortly thereafter.  All queries should be sent to gaeltacht@forsa.ie.

Application forms can be submitted either by email to gaeltacht@forsa.ieor by post to Fórsa Head Office to the following address: General Services Committee, Gaeltacht Scheme, Fórsa, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1, D01 R2C5. Only one method of application per applicant is allowed.

A list of last year's winners is available on the Fórsa website.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.

As Summer turns to Autumn many of us turn our minds to learning.

Our Skills Academy offers training for members, workplace representatives, and branch activists throughout the year, for more information on upcoming courses check out our calendar for the year ahead here.

However if you don’t have the time to sign up to a specific course at the moment, did you know that all our Lunch & Learn trainings are available on the Fórsa Skills Academy YouTube channel?

These hour-long sessions provide insights and overviews of a range of different topics so if you’re looking to learn how to draft a motion, brush up on your public speaking skills, or for insights into how to speak about your union, and build membership you can watch back all the sessions in your own time here. 

Have you ever wanted to join a friendly, active and non-competitive choir? Then the People’s College Choir could be for you!  

The mixed-voice choir of 45 members is now recruiting new members. You can find out more about the choir’s affiliations with Fórsa and other unions by clicking HERE.

The choir was founded in 1993 by then President of the People’s College, Dr Sheila Conroy, the first ever female member of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union Executive. The College itself was established in 1948 to promote worker and cultural education and the choir is part of that wider programme. Members are trade union and community activists from Dublin, and neighbouring counties. 

The choir sings an extensive range of songs in a non-competitive atmosphere; some old, some new, some folk, traditional Irish airs and modern popular songs as well as songs of social progress ‒ some of which have been performed at trade union organised events including in Áras an Uachtaráin.

The choir rehearse from 8.30 p.m. until 10 p.m. each Tuesday evening in Club na Múinteoirí (the ‘Teachers’ Club’, Parnell Square). The choral year runs from September until May of the following year. 

If you are interested in joining you can contact the musical director, Paul Walsh, at peoplescollegechoir@gmail.com

The 3rd Irish Labour History Society (ILHS) international event takes place from 14th to 17th September across a number of venues, including the Liberty Hall Theatre and Fórsa’s head office at Nerney’s Court.

The conference will feature panel discussions with academics, trade union representatives, activists and representatives of migrant workers. Fórsa general secretary, Kevin Callinan, will take part in a discussion on the issue of social dialogue with Danny McCoy of Ibec on Sunday, 17th September.

The conference kicks off on Thursday at 2:30pm in Liberty Hall with an introduction and welcome from Shay Cody, Chair of the ILHS. The programme includes panels and presentations on:

• Press for Labour Rights – Keeping it real in a world of AI
• Discursive studies reviewing Social Partnership; The Peace Process, Good Friday Agreement and Brexit
• Gender, Class & Labour History Since 1980
• Setting the scene, the Irish delegation to the ILO
• Irish Public Policy - ‘The Marriage Bar in the Civil Service 1893-1973

If you are interested in attending, please email ilhsconference@forsa.ie before the 12^th of September. The ILHS are partnered in this venture by ICTU, and with the Northern Ireland Committee of ICTU. You can find the full conference agenda HERE.