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Time runs short on public service pay
by Niall Shanahan and Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa and other public service unions have warned that the time available to negotiate and ratify a new public service pay agreement is running short.


Fórsa and other public service unions have warned that the time available to negotiate and ratify a new public service pay agreement is running short. The current Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA) expires on 31st December, but talks on a successor have not moved beyond an exploratory phase, in which the two parties seek to establish whether there is scope for substantial negotiations to produce a result.

 

The ICTU Public Services Committee (PSC), which is made up of most of Ireland’s public service unions, met two weeks ago to hear a report on talks between union leaders and senior officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).

 

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan, who leads the union side, expressed disappointment at the lack of progress and said there was currently no basis for a full negotiation. This followed the cancellation of a scheduled meeting after DPER officials said they had yet to consult with public expenditure minister Michael McGrath.

 

Kevin said the delay was a concerning signal for all parties, including the Government.

 

“There is now a real possibility that we will find ourselves, perhaps unintentionally, without an agreement at the end of the year. That would create a very difficult industrial relations environment, which would be complicated further by the lingering Covid-19 crisis. I don’t believe that’s in anybody’s best interests,” he said.

Earlier, Kevin told Fórsa’s Consultative Council – made up of representatives from all the union’s branches – that, in the absence of a deal, Fórsa would prepare an alternative strategy and submit claims to employers when the PSSA expires.

He said negotiations for a new public service agreement would need to address specific austerity measures, include an acceptable approach to pay, and provide a clear path to resolving particular long-standing issues within public service grades, groups and categories, ensuring an ultimate resolution in each case.

He added that the reversal of additional working hours, introduced under the 2013 Haddington Road agreement as an alternative to an additional pay cut at the time, remained a priority issue for the union.


Speaking at the prestigious Industrial Relations News annual conference last week, Minister McGrath reiterated the Government’s desire to strike a deal, but said the economic backdrop to the talks was the most difficult imaginable.

 

The Programme for Government commits the coalition to negotiate a successor to the PSSA, which underpins pay and working conditions for staff across the civil and public service, including voluntary hospitals and other ‘section 38’ bodies. Public service pay agreements also cover non-commercial State agencies.

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Almost 10,000 health staff got Covid
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa is seeking urgent HSE measures to address the growth in Covid-19 infections among health staff as the number rose to over 9,225 at the start of last month. Around 30% of these are staff in grades represented by Fórsa.


Fórsa is seeking urgent HSE measures to address the growth in Covid-19 infections among health staff as the number rose to over 9,225 at the start of last month. Around 30% of these are staff in grades represented by Fórsa.

 

The union’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, has asked the ‘staff panel,’ which brings together the main unions in the sector, to increase pressure on the HSE to take action after the agency failed to respond to a detailed union complaint, which was sent over a month ago.

 

The unions believe the number of cases – which is among the highest in Europe – is largely down to a ‘derogation’ policy, which gives local management authority to require staff to return to work quickly after unprotected close contacts at work, including close contacts with known clusters.

 

Unions say local managers are derogating significant numbers of staff to return to work because of pressures on the health service and health service staffing, and that this means health workers who are in close contact with the virus are frequently not subject to the same infection control measures as others.

 

They say the HSE has insufficient national governance on the practice, and little insight into its impact on healthcare workers’ or patients’ health.

 

In early October, the HSE admitted to unions that it holds no national records of derogations. As a result, there are no reliable statistics on the numbers granted, where they are in place, or links between derogations and the spread of the virus among staff and others.

 

Among other things, Fórsa and other unions have called for a testing policy that’s robust enough to counter the relatively lax safeguards applied under derogations, and better measurement of related infections among other staff and patients.

 

Mr Donnelly said the HSE’s approach to the problem was “casual,” against a background of almost 10,000 infections, which had likely led to further spread among the close contacts of at least some of those affected.

 

“Overall the HSE has done an excellent job in response to the pandemic, and its staff have shown great courage and commitment. It’s understandable that an imperfect policy was put in place at the height of the early emergency, when we knew little about the virus and the health service was struggling to put urgent responses in place. But the approach now needs to be reviewed and amended as a matter of urgency.

 

“At the very least, we need national oversight to monitor and record all derogations, ensure compliance with policy, and assess the impact of derogations. And we need a robust testing regime to minimise risks to derogated staff, their colleagues and patients,” he said.

 

In related news, the Irish Times this week reported on HSE documents that showed the number of health staff off work with Covid-related issues surged to almost five times its summer level in recent weeks. Almost 1,700 health workers were absent due to Covid-19 on 21st October when level five restrictions were introduced. This was up from just over 350 on 8th July.

 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

Tusla job evaluation row referred to WRC
by Niall Shanahan
 

Fórsa is to ballot clerical and administrative grades (III to VI) in the child and family agency, Tusla, following the agency’s scrapping of an agreed job evaluation scheme for these grades.


Fórsa is to ballot clerical and administrative grades (III to VI) in the child and family agency, Tusla, following the agency’s scrapping of an agreed job evaluation scheme for these grades. The scheme only re-opened in January 2020.

 

The union has also referred the matter to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

 

On 16th October Fórsa reported that Tusla had made a decision to temporarily suspend the scheme following an instruction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER). However, the union received formal notification yesterday (Thursday) that the scheme has been suspended indefinitely.

 

Fórsa official Chris Cully said Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth had agreed to effectively scrap the scheme because DPER said it was operating without sanction.

 

“The union will now proceed with our plans to ballot members for industrial action, and we have also referred the matter to the WRC. We have advised the employer that the union remains available for conciliation talks,” she said.

 

The job evaluation scheme is an acknowledged scheme within the health sector and is covered under the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA). The agreement requires management and unions to conclude arrangements on the conduct and scope of job evaluation in the health sector.

 

Chris said Tusla’s scrapping of the scheme contravenes the agency’s own commitment to staff who were assured that they would not be less favourably treated than HSE staff when they transferred to Tusla.

 

Ballot preparations are underway and Chris is advising members to ensure their contact details are up to date: “If members have changed employment or moved recently they should ensure the union has the most up to date contact details for them.

 

“The easiest way to do this is complete the ‘Update my contact details’ form on the union’s website. We’ll be making contact with branches and regions about ballot arrangements shortly,” she said.

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

EHO concerns on Covid role
by Niall Shanahan
 

Fórsa is continuing to engage with management in environmental health services about the Covid-19 contact-tracing work undertaken by environmental health officers (EHOs).


Fórsa is continuing to engage with management in environmental health services about the Covid-19 contact-tracing work undertaken by environmental health officers (EHOs).

 

EHOs are currently engaged in contact tracing work, which is crucial to stemming the spread of the virus. EHOs have been engaged in this work on a seven-day week basis for several months.

 

Fórsa assistant general secretary Ryan McKinney said the union continues to receive briefings from the HSE on the recruitment of contact tracers.

 

“This is a crucial recruitment process as it will ultimately ensure that EHOs can revert to their normal duties. This is a current priority for the union,” he said.

 

Ryan said the union is also currently considering management’s response to a report compiled by the EHO’s Covid-19 subgroup, and further discussions are to take place shortly. He said management has confirmed that there is currently no plan to extend the existing memorandum of understanding, through which EHOs are assessing the implementation of the Return to Work Safely protocol in food businesses, beyond December 2020.

 

Ryan added: “Should this change then we’ll engage in direct discussions. EHS management shares our objective of a return to core duties as soon as possible. In the meantime Fórsa is working with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to ensure no decision is taken at government level about the role of EHOs during the pandemic without proper consultation.”

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

Engagement sought on HSE audit
by Niall Shanahan
 

Fórsa has sought an engagement with the HSE’s internal audit division to discuss a range of issues of concern emerging for members.


Fórsa has sought an engagement with the HSE’s internal audit division to discuss a range of issues of concern emerging for members.

 

The division deals with risk management and governance of the HSE with staff placed throughout the country.

 

Fórsa official Ryan McKinney said a number of issues had come to light and the union is now reconstituting a technical group of internal audit members in order to prepare for future engagement with management.

 

“There are a number of issues, including the introduction of new working practices without consultation, which we need to address, and to ensure management remains compliant with the HSE’s own guidance on health service change.

 

“The union is also seeking discussion around appropriate resourcing of regional units. There appears to be a trend of staff moving on, for instance to Dublin, with no backfill of the post they’ve vacated.

 

“The transformation of healthcare envisaged by Sláintecare demands that we need to be fully engaged in a discussion about future staffing plans, not least to ensure that regions are not short-changed on services,” he said.

 

Ryan added that the union is now seeking nominee representatives from each regional office to join the technical group. Interested members should send their contact details HERE.

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Union queries numbers attending work
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa has raised concerns that more workers than necessary are being required to attend workplaces since the entire country entered level five of the Government’s Covid-19 framework two weeks ago.


Fórsa has raised concerns that more workers than necessary are being required to attend workplaces since the entire country entered level five of the Government’s Covid-19 framework two weeks ago.

 

Under the highest level of restrictions, which was introduced on 21st October for a six-week period, employees are meant to work from home unless they are providing essential services that require their physical presence in a workplace.

 

But the union says significantly more public servants were working from home at the outset of the coronavirus crisis in March, April and May than are now. This is partly because schools and crèches have remained open, though Fórsa says other services could be maintained with fewer staff going into workplaces.

 

A union spokesperson said there was a need for some to attend workplaces. “Very many, in health, social welfare and elsewhere, obviously need to go into work. Schools are now included in that, but we have concerns that, when it comes to remote working, some employers may not be placing the same emphasis on the imperative to control the spread of the virus as they did earlier in the year.

 

“We have raised this with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, saying that stronger central guidance may be required to reduce the number of staff travelling and attending workplaces without reducing levels of service to the public.”

 

Last week, the National Transport Authority expressed concern at the numbers of people still using public transport to go into work. Its chief executive, Anne Graham, said the return of schools was likely to add to pressures.

 

“NTA is asking people to avoid travelling at peak times and only to use public transport for essential purposes. Nobody wants to see a situation where essential workers, such as those on the healthcare frontline, cannot get on a bus. People who can work from home should work from home,” she said.

 

In a related move, Fórsa has also called on the Government to improve legal safety protections for essential public service workers in health, education, social protection, local authorities and elsewhere.

 

Through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Public Services Committee, the union said a lack of Health and Safety Authority (HSA) oversight was putting these workers at greater risk. Unions have called for a legal requirement for the agency to investigate Covid infections in the workplace, as recommended by the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response.

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Cost of remote working in frame
by Bernard Harbor and Hazel Gavigan
 

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has renewed calls for legislation to oblige employers to pay remote workers an allowance to cover some of the costs of working from home. ICTU also wants a review of the current €3.20-a-day rate that workers can receive tax-free.


The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has renewed calls for legislation to oblige employers to pay remote workers an allowance to cover some of the costs of working from home. ICTU also wants a review of the current €3.20-a-day rate that workers can receive tax-free.

 

The call came after Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe extended tax relief for home workers’ utility expenses to include broadband, but fell short of announcing any other supports to facilitate remote working or assist those working from home.

 

Right now, home workers can claim tax relief on some heating and lighting costs if they don’t get a home working allowance from their employer. Workers can also claim tax relief on other vouched expenses incurred "wholly, exclusively and necessarily" when working at home.

 

Almost a half of respondents to a Fórsa members’ survey on remote working said that they incurred costs that they would not incur in work while working at home. The survey, which was conducted in July, drew responses from over 4,300 members.

 

Meanwhile, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) has updated its guidance on remote working on foot of a public consultation that took place during the summer. Its website now includes a remote working checklist for employers.

 

Tax and financial incentives were the single most-mentioned issue in submissions to the consultation, with many saying current tax allowances were inadequate and difficult to understand and claim.

 

The consultation attracted over 500 submissions including a detailed paper from Fórsa, in which the union made 20 recommendations. 

 

A number of submissions, including Fórsa’s, called for better health and safety protocols to cover work-related accidents in the home. Greater clarity over responsibility for provision of equipment and technology was also sought.

 

The department says the consultation will be used to inform a national strategy on remote work, with a cross-Government approach to facilitating and encouraging longer-term remote working in Ireland.

 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

 

Virtual conference good to go
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa’s delayed 2020 national delegate conference is set to take place on a fully remote basis on 19th November. Originally planned for last May, the event was interrupted by Covid-related public health restrictions on travel and assembly


Fórsa’s delayed 2020 national delegate conference is set to take place on a fully remote basis on 19th November. Originally planned for last May, the event was interrupted by Covid-related public health restrictions on travel and assembly.

 

The pandemic also means the size of the conference is restricted, with just one delegate from each branch. As always, their votes will be weighted to reflect the number of members in each branch. Members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) are also entitled to attend and vote.

 

It’s intended to live stream the conference so that all members can see the proceedings if they want to.

 

On foot of continuing coronavirus-related public health restrictions on travel, public gatherings, and related matters, the NEC agreed in July that the conference should be organised on a remote basis. The results of postal ballots to elect the union’s president, treasurer and three vice-presidents will be ratified at the event.

 

The conference agenda has had to be pared-back as business will be conducted in one day instead of the usual three. Delegates will debate a small number of proposals, including NEC motions on pay and jobs, working time and remote work, and the country’s response to the coronavirus crisis.

 

Delegates will also be asked to endorse reports on the union’s activities and finances over the two years since Fórsa was formed in early 2018, along with a report on organisational matters.

 

You can read all the reports and conference documents HERE.

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Feature Article
Fórsa’s free counselling helpline here for you
Fórsa’s range of support helplines remains in action during the Covid-19 crisis.

Our free 24-7 phone lines provide confidential counselling

(1850-776655) and legal advice (1850-77-66-44), including free legal help in bodily injury cases. And you can contact the union directly HERE if you have a work-related problem. 


Also in this issue
New mental health tool
by Hazel Gavigan
 

The HSE has launched a free online mental health programme called ‘minding your wellbeing.’ It focuses on the promotion of mental wellbeing, and has been adapted from a face-to-face programme into a series of online videos.

 

The material has been produced to focus on various areas of mental health. The five 20-minute videos focus on self-care, understanding your thoughts, exploring emotions, building positive relationships and improving your resilience.

 

These themes encourage participants to build their own ‘self-care toolkit’, which include healthy habits for their mental health and wellbeing. The content also invites users to reflect on their own thinking and consider how thinking patterns can impact their wellbeing.

 

This course is available to everyone and provides a unique opportunity to learn and practice key elements of mental wellbeing such as mindfulness, gratitude, self-care and resilience.

 

For more information on the programme and to access the videos, click here.

 

For more information on minding your mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic, click here.

 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

 

 

Human rights need union support
by Hazel Gavigan
 

A webinar on trade unions’ role in promoting and protecting human rights and equality took place in late October.

  

The event was jointly hosted by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). Fórsa general secretary and ICTU vice-president, Kevin Callinan opened the session by welcoming the opportunity for trade unions to reconnect with their own fundamental values.

 

"We, as trade unionists, are committed to human rights, equality and diversity. It is widely recognised that the workplace is a strategic entry point to free society from discrimination," he said.

 

Promoting and protecting human rights and equality: The potential of the public sector equality and human rights duty for trade unions,’ aimed to advance the rights of public sector workers and service users, while enhancing the quality of public policy and services.

 

The keynote address was delivered by UNISON general secretary, Dave Prentis.

 

Leader of the UK’s largest public service union began by acknowledging how important the public sector equality duty has been during the Covid-19 pandemic. “The right for every person to be treated with decency, dignity and equality is vital in a time of crisis,” he said.

 

Referencing a recent speech by President Michael D Higgins to an OECD conference, Dave highlighted his point that the State has the ability to play a leading, transformative role is providing quality and universal public services to its citizens.

 

President Higgins said governments could act decisively when the will is there. Mr Prentis said trade unionists should generate this will, which would ultimately create a better, fairer society.

 

“We have human rights and equality legislation to facilitate the creation of political will, which will ultimately enact transformative change for all,” he said.

 

Download the public sector human rights and equality duty here. 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Pension commission line-up disappoints
by Bernard Harbor
 

Pension campaigners have expressed disappointment at the composition of a new Pension Commission, saying its membership doesn’t reflect the interests of those most affected by a proposed increase in the age at which workers become eligible for the State pension.

 

The commission has been established by Government to review the issue. The programme for government said the pension age would be maintained at 66, pending the completion of the Commission's work. The previous Government had plans to increase the age of retirement to 67 next year, and to 68 in 2028.

 

The STOP67 coalition, which includes Siptu, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI), and organisations representing pensioners and older people, mounted an effective general election campaign against the proposed pension age increase to 67 from next January.

 

NWCI director Orla O’Connor said women experienced deep pension inequalities as they are more likely to be in low-paid jobs, and the value of their pensions is reduced when they spend time out of the workforce because of caring responsibilities.

 

“It is difficult [for them] to collect sufficient PRSI contributions to be eligible for the full State contributory pension and so they are more likely to be reliant on the non-contributory pension. Pension policy is absolutely crucial for women’s equality and has an enormous impact on women’s access to an independent income in old age,” she said.

 

SIPTU deputy general secretary Ethel Buckley welcome the invitation to ICTU to nominate a member to the commission. “However, the balance of its membership does not reflect the interests of those directly affected by the proposed increase in the pension age. Nor does it reflect the interests of those workers who rely entirely on the state pension for their retirement income,” she said.

Union guidance on remote working
 

Fórsa has published advice for workers who will be working remotely in the medium or long-term.

 

The guidance was produced as the Government’s recently-announced ‘roadmap for reopening society and business’, made it clear that many public servants and others will continue to work from home for some time.

 

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the working circumstances of almost half of Ireland’s workers, with more than a third now working from home. This extended period of remote working is a new experience for most.

 

While some have now established a productive and rewarding remote working routine, it can be a struggle at times.

 

Working at home: Staying safe, connected, healthy and productive contains advice on health and safety, setting up a workspace, breaks, staying in touch with managers and colleagues, and balancing work with home life and childcare.

 

The guide also contains useful tips on data protection, cybersecurity, and safeguarding your mental health.


Róisín McKane of Fórsa’s Communications Unit drafted the guidance. “Many union members could be working remotely for longer than they ever expected. This information will help them to navigate home working for an extended period.

 

“You may be out of the workplace, but you can still rely on certain legal protections, and you should look to your employer for the supports you need to do your job safely and well,” she said.

 

Read the Fórsa guidance HERE. 

 

If you have questions or concerns about your own situation, you can contact Fórsa HERE

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

Update your contact details
 

You can help us keep you up-to-date with union information, news and advice by checking your contact details and amending them if necessary. If we have your home and personal contact details (personal email, mobile phone number, and home address) we can get information to you quickly and directly. You can update your contact details HERE.

Join Fórsa online
 

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: Here to support you
 

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.