Fórsa’s ‘A Better Deal’ campaign is preparing to move into its next phase, following months of intensive organising activity across workplaces in the civil and public service. Since late November 2025, union activists, workplace representatives and branch leaders have been laying the groundwork for the campaign with planning meetings and pilot programmes in select employments across the civil and public service. 

The campaign has its roots in frustrations identified by members in the Amárach survey of last year, explained general secretary Kevin Callinan. 

“The messages are coming in loud and clear from Fórsa members: the rising cost of living, an ongoing housing crisis, pressure on public services and growing threats to flexible and remote working have left workers stretched and frustrated. This campaign was established as a back-to-basics effort to continue to build workplace power and harness collective strength as we approach pay bargaining. The campaign begins with a simple but powerful pledge: members will only support a pay agreement that addresses the big issues in their lives.” 

Over 7,000 organising conversations 

According to deputy general secretary Katie Morgan, early results from the first phase of the campaign show significant engagement right across the union’s structures. 

“So far, activists have held more than 7,000 one-to-one conversations about the campaign for ‘A Better Deal’ across almost 500 pilot workplaces, leading to over 7,000 civil and public service workers pledging support for a better deal.” 

“These conversations have taken place across 95 Fórsa branches, involving 631 workplace representatives and campaign champions, and covering 120 employers. This grassroots organising has launched the campaign through member-led enthusiasm and energy, which will continue to build as we now move to the next stage, by expanding the campaign to all members covered by the public service agreement.” 

There are now almost 2,000 workplace representatives in civil and public service employments who have stepped up to help lead the campaign locally.  

The preparation for the campaign has also strengthened the union’s organising infrastructure. Katie says that significant work has been done behind the scenes to improve the union’s data and communication systems. 

“That involved mapping and tagging our workplace representatives on our membership system. In total, the union has close to 2,500 workplace reps, with almost 2,000 working in the civil and public service - reps are the absolute backbone of the union. These are the people on the ground who work hard for the collective interests of the members and link the workplace to the broader union structures. They are key to the campaign for ‘A Better Deal’,” explained Katie. 

Next phase

The campaign will now move into phase two, where the pledge for ‘A Better Deal’ will be open to all members and potential members covered by the public service pay agreement. From next week, these members will be asked to sign the pledge – and will receive the link directly.  

Activists and workplace leaders will also begin a coordinated rollout of campaign materials and briefings. Online briefings for any member who is interested in finding out more about the campaign will start in late March, in addition to local workplace briefings and events.  

A new campaign toolkit will be made available to workplace activists. The toolkit will include a leaflet with a QR code linking directly to the pledge, workplace posters, FAQs and other digital resources. 

Well on the way to 100,000 

The campaign is taking place against a backdrop of strong membership growth for the union. Fórsa recorded 96,924 members at the end of 2025, a net increase of more than 17,000 members since 2017. 

The union has also dramatically improved the quality of its membership data. 

Director of membership Seán McElhinney said: “We have now dramatically improved our overall accurate email coverage for members to over 96% in 2025. Furthermore, because of widespread mapping, we have also improved our workplace data and strengthened the foundations for organising in Fórsa workplaces and sectors.” 

No more passivity 

Seán said this momentum reflects the energy of activists and members across the organisation. 

“We have been building towards an impressive ambition of 100,000 members. We’re building an organised collective that can fight for the common good and shape the world for the better on behalf of workers and communities everywhere. Isn’t that a mission worth signing up to?” 

With thousands of workers pledging support for ‘A Better Deal’ and a growing network of activists across the union, Fórsa is now well positioned to move from base-building to mass participation, making it clear that public servants will play an active role in the next round of bargaining. 

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