With the amalgamation of three unions to create Fórsa came an opportunity to enhance membership benefits. There are a broad spectrum of benefits available to members, varying in nature. Some are financial, others by means of support. With some schemes members are automatically enrolled when they join the union, and there are others that operate on an “opt in” basis. It is important to note however, that members can make considerable savings through these benefits.

So what exactly does your membership subscription get you?

Financial benefits

After 6 months in membership all members are entitled to the following:

• €5,000 in personal accident cover
• €5,000 critical illness cover or death benefit. Spouses are also covered under this scheme
• From 2 January 2019 a €5,000 illness benefit will be available to members if you are out of work for more than 12 months
• For members who are seriously ill, injured, or pass away while abroad, Fórsa will cover evacuation or repatriation expenses up to the value of €250,000

Fórsa has also negotiated a number of group schemes for its members through various providers including Cornmarket, Glennons Insurance, JLT, KennCo and Lyons Financial Services, details of which we'll be including in the next news bulletin. These providers will give members advice on various financial products such as car and home insurance, pension benefits, salary protection and life cover.

Support services

Fórsa members can also avail of free counseling, legal advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, through the following helplines:

• Free legal help in bodily injury cases 1850-77-66-44
• Free 24/7 legal advice helpline 1850-77-66-44
• Free 24/7 confidential counselling helpline 1850-77-66-55
• Free 24/7 domestic assistance helpline 1850-77-66-44

In addition, provisions have been made for a benevolent grant for members who are in financial distress. Gaeltacht scholarships are available for members who have school age children. Members can also avail of industrial relations scholarships.

Group Scheme

Another hidden gem is the group scheme. This operates on an “opt in” basis and there are huge savings to be made on everyday items. Members can access discounts from small businesses located near their place of work including restaurants, retailers, hairdressers and coffee shops.

The group scheme also operates a cashback system. The concept is simple; every time you shop online with one of the cashback partners they will reimburse a portion of what you spend. The money accumulates in your group scheme cashback account, which you can transfer to your bank account at any time.

Fórsa organiser Bernie Aston explains just how important these schemes are for members. “All of the membership schemes are hugely beneficial. Fórsa has negotiated with a number of financial providers to give members the best options available. Generally, with the likes of the financial products, members will see discounts on what they are currently paying.”

Bernie also highlighted the benefits of the group scheme. “This is a real money saver” said Bernie. “Members can more than negate the cost of their union subscriptions through the savings and offers available.”

For more information on the full range of benefits visit the Fórsa website.

Fórsa has secured an interim arrangement with Westmeath County Council whereby technicians can act up and cover unforeseen medium term staff absences in the council.

The new arrangement means the technicians who work in a range of areas, namely environment and roads, can assume higher responsibilities and subsequently receive the appropriate financial allowance.

The Westmeath branch have sought discussions with management surrounding staffing requirements to look at long term solutions to this issue as opposed the temporary one agreed.

Fórsa official Shane Lambert said: “The result here highlights the necessity for employers to engage with the union to ensure adequate staffing. This enables the organisation to deal with unforeseen vacancies or emergencies, while continuing to deliver services to a high standard.”

Members of Fórsa’s Wexford branch are balloting for industrial action in a dispute over arrangements for filling posts.

The issue arose after management declared its intention to fill a specialist position of senior credit controller (Grade VII) without reference to existing generic panels agreed between the union and the council.

The union had previously contacted management at Wexford County Council expressing serious concerns over the deviation from the agreement regarding the filling of posts.

The union commenced the ballot as management proceeded to advertise the post. The ballot includes all local authority members in the Wexford branch except for library members.

In a letter to members Fórsa official Shay Clinton said: “Given management’s intended departure from the normal arrangements, which could affect other grades in the future, the branch has decided that members should be balloted on a motion for industrial action.”

The launch of the Fórsa Women’s Activist Network will take place on Saturday 3rd November at 11am at Fórsa's Nerney's Court Office.
 
This new Equality Network will provide a forum for members across the union to meet and discuss issues relevant to women in the workplace. This national meeting is the first of a series of new Equality Networks to be established by the Equality Committee over the coming months.

The meeting will be opened by ICTU General Secretary Patricia King and will feature speakers on the gender pay gap, access to flexible working schemes, the role of women within Fórsa and other topics of interest to activists across the union.
 
The event, which will run from 11am to 3pm, will include speakers on the following topics:

• Patricia King, General Secretary Irish Congress of Trade Unions – Opening remarks
• Ann McGee, Fórsa President - Building the Women’s Activist Network
• Orla O’Connor, Director National Women’s Council of Ireland – The Gender Pay Gap and mandatory Reporting
• Laura Bambrick, Social Policy & Legislative Officer Irish Congress of Trade Unions - Wives, Mothers, Workers: A brief history of the treatment of women in tax and welfare policies
• Angela Kirk, Fórsa National Secretary – Women working in Aviation – experiences, barriers & opportunities
• Lisa Wilson, Economist at the Nevin Economic Research Institute – The importance of flexible working for women in the workplace
• Margaret Coughlan, Chair ICTU Women’s Committee – Our Fórsa Inspire Training and how we can develop the role of Women within Fórsa

The full programme is available to view here. This is the first of a number of new Equality Networks which will be established over the coming months aimed at improving equality in the workplace for Fórsa members.

 
Places are available to members on a first come first served basis, lunch will be provided. To book a place please send an email to this address with 'Fórsa Women’s Activist Network' in the subject heading.

The Labour Court has issued a recommendation stating that a competition for specialist posts at Kilkenny County Council was not executed in accordance with best practice, and may have deterred candidates from applying for the competition.

Fórsa sought an adjudication at the Labour Court, following the union’s claim that the employer had unilaterally altered the terms of agreed procedures for a specialised Grade VII (internal auditor) post.

Fórsa official Shay Clinton said the changed procedure had put potential candidates off from applying for the post.

“The post would normally have been filled as part of a generic administrative officer competition. However, on this occasion, Kilkenny management proceeded to fill the post as a separate post with desirable qualifications.

“Management were aware that advertising the post in this way was contrary to normal arrangements. Despite objections from the union on behalf of staff, they proceeded regardless,” he said.

Shay added: “The Court stated that a maximum of 27 candidates may have been deterred from applying for the competition.”

Shay said the union’s Kilkenny branch welcomed the recommendation of the court, as it recognised that union engagement was insufficient and failed to address the concerns of staff, prior to the filling of the post.

The Labour Court's recommendation (LCR21792) is available here.

Fórsa trade union members in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council met in late October to discuss council management's failure to employ a full time staff counsellor/staff welfare officer.

Since the previous counsellor retired in July 2017, management have provided a limited service just once a week. Following representation by the union, management then committed to increasing this to two days per week. However, staff continue to face difficulty accessing appointments.

Chairperson of Fórsa’s Dún Laoghaire Rathdown branch, Gerry O’Quigley said it’s essential for the counsellor to be employed on a full time basis. “It’s vital to have some one embedded in the organisation so they fully understand the issues staff present to them and are able to provide accurate and helpful advice” he said.

The Branch carried out a survey of its members on the issue, and found that 90% of respondents believed the council should provide a full time service. Of those who had previously used the service, 37% accessed it for mainly workplace-based issues, with a further 26% requiring counselling in relation to general mental health issues.

Gerry added: "The employment of a full time staff counsellor was a very progressive facility provided by the Council until 2017. Countless staff availed of the service over the years and the decision by council management to withdraw this full time service has caused distress to many of our members. It is deeply unfortunate that at a time when well-being in the workplace is receiving more focus, this service should be reduced by the council."

The branch is calling on management to reinstate the full time service.

Trade unions must match the digital experience provided by other organisations to build towards the future according to the Trade Union Congress (TUC’s) Antonia Bance.

Ms Bance, the TUC’s head of campaigns, communications and digital, was speaking about the importance of unions adopting a digitally orientated approach at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Friday Briefing event in mid-October.

She said an effective digital approach was crucial to reaching younger workers and encouraging greater engagement with unions. “Digital is as much about culture, practices and processes as technology, enhanced communications and research capabilities can be used to tailor campaigns,” she said.

Ms Bance also said practical changes to methods of recruiting members could make the everyday work of unions more efficient and provide a simpler and more enjoyable experience for members.

Speaking after the event, Fórsa's communications officer Niall Shanahan said “Antonia presented us with a formidable challenge, one that unions need to face realistically. Union members need to be able to have a digital relationship with their union on a par with their relationship with their bank or favourite online bookstore.

“The event provided useful and interesting insights into how to reach members on different platforms, and how to tailor both communications and general operations. 

“While every member values the direct contact they have with a union official, that relationship must be complemented by a responsive digital experience. The future is already here, unions need to own the digital space. We're not there yet,” he said.

Fórsa welcomed David Keegan and Edel Doran (pictured left, below) from First Fortnight to learn about their excellent work.

The Dublin-based charity aims to challenge mental health prejudice and stigma through arts and culture. It began as a volunteer-led initiative in 2010, establishing the first mental health arts and culture festival in 2012.

The charity also provides creative therapies to marginalised communities affected by mental ill-health.

Pictured are Fórsa's Eamonn Donnelly (right) and Dessie Robinson presenting a donation from our conference charity cycle event in May.

Find out more about their work at firstfortnight.ie.

Mental health support

First Fortnight are one of four mental health charities that received funds from the union’s charity cycling event, the sixth event of its kind. This year, the union focused on groups providing mental health supports and suicide awareness and prevention services.

Eamonn and Dessie established the event in 2008, cycling from Dublin to Kilkenny.

Since then the event has grown, attracting donations from every branch of the union, and each event features a growing number of participating union members.

To learn more about this year’s charities, check out the latest edition of Fórsa magazine, available in your workplace, or download a PDF version here.