Fórsa members working in Scouting Ireland are set to commence industrial today, Friday 4th October, in an ongoing dispute with management on the establishment of pay scales within the organisation. Members voted overwhelmingly to support a ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action, following failed attempts to engage with management. 

Fórsa official Maura Cahalan explained that Scouting Ireland management wrote to the union in November 2023 confirming that a draft pay scale document would be presented to the Board of Directors at the February 2024 meeting, but have since refused to engage with members on the issue 

“We have tried on numerous occasions to engage with management on the matter and they have not responded to any of our communications to date. In addition, management have not informed members of any change to their position or consulted with members on a regular basis. They have also refused to attend the state third party mechanism to resolve this dispute,” she said. 

Maura said that management’s withdrawal from the process is “wholly unacceptable” and places members in a very precarious position. With the unanimous support of the Local Government and Local Services Divisional Executive Committee, and Chairperson of the Dublin City Council branch Julie Flood, it was voted overwhelmingly that management would be informed of industrial action effective from October Friday 4th.

“Management representatives have utterly failed to engage meaningfully in resolving this dispute, despite its commitment to do so. There was no meaningful or constructive engagement from the employer side and the employer has failed both the process and the workers. As always, we remain open to engagement, but management should not underestimate the absolute determination among members to secure an appropriate pay scale in Scouting Ireland, and this action will illustrate that,” said Julie. 

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