Fórsa has called on the Seanad Public Consultation Committee on the Future of Local Democracy to introduce local government reform in order to enhance local government and local services, and invest in a system that is fair, open, transparent, and well-funded.

Speaking at the public hearing in the Oireachtas yesterday, Head of Fórsa’s Local Government and Local Services and Municipal Employees’ Divisions Richy Carrothers told the Committee that Ireland now has the worst level of local representation and the weakest local government of any country in Europe. He said that austerity, privatisation, executive direction and centralisation have “hollowed out public services” and stripped local authorities and local communities of their democratic power.

“Local government presents the greatest inter-relationship between the citizen and the State and must be protected, promoted and strengthened. Today our local government is being actively degraded. Essential public services like housing, water, energy and waste are being undermined, and trust in our system of government is being eroded day by day,” he said.

Richy spoke of the challenges faced by the sector, both past and present, which continue to cause a deep and significant impact on the provision of services and the retention and recruitment of staff. 

“At the height of the financial crisis, 10,000 jobs were lost in the local government sector, the greatest proportion of jobs in any sector in the Irish public service, and has resulted in deep and long-term problems of grade drift and blurring the demarcation of duties and responsibilities,

“We can track the correlation between the loss of these posts, centralisation, loss of services to communities, democratic deficits and the perception of disempowerment amongst communities. Changes in population demographics, public spending, staffing levels, and public perception of public services continue to present an ever-changing landscape. What we do know is that the sector can be incredibly agile and responsive to new and emerging challenges,” he said.

Richy outlined to the Committee a number of reforms, which Fórsa has long campaigned for, that would enhance local government covering waste, water, housing, and energy services. These include: 

• Further legislative changes to facilitate directly elected mayors with real power and funding.
• Re-imagined local democracy, underpinned by citizen engagement.
• Increased revenue and funding powers, with parallel systems of accountability and transparency, to move the percentage of local authority-managed public spending towards the European average. 
• An immediate end to the outsourcing of council housing maintenance and a shift to a new local authority-led public housing model. 
• Stronger regulation of the waste sector to ensure that every household has access to an affordable waste disposal service, as a precursor to the reintroduction of improved public provision. 
• A constitutional referendum on the right to water, which should ensure that water and wastewater services remain in public ownership and control. 
• Investment in local authority environmental and sustainable energy infrastructure and staff, to facilitate the maximum use of the SEAI ‘Better Energy’ programmes.

He urged the Committee to work with local authorities, trade unions, and representative groups to improve local services and local democracy.

“With your help, we can improve local services in our communities, for people now, and for future generations. The people demand and deserve a local government system that is fair, open, transparent, and well-funded. A system of local democracy that is connected, accessible and accountable. Community enhancement and empowerment are the key ingredients to achieving improved local democracy,” he concluded.

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

Revised scales are now available on the Fórsa website, reflecting the first pay increment under the recently ratified public service pay deal.

Pay scales for Fórsa members working in Local Government & Local Services have been updated on the Fórsa website, reflecting the first pay increment under the recently ratified public service pay deal, covering the period from 1st January 2024 to 30th June 2026.

 
The adjustment will see a general round increase in annualised basic salary of 2.25% or €1,125, whichever is greater. It is effective from 1st January 2024 and applies to workers covered under the agreement. 
Fórsa members voted in favour of the deal by a margin of 94%. With more than 52,720 members voting on the new pay terms, the final turnout was 67.3%.

The deal was ratified by an aggregate ballot of the PSC on Monday 25th March 2024. It provides the following pay terms:

2024

• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 2.25% or €1,125, whichever is greater, from 1st January 2024
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% on 1st June 2024
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1st October 2024

2025

• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 2% or €1,000, whichever is greater, on 1st March 2025
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% on 1st August 2025
• The first phase of local bargaining, equivalent to 1% of payroll cost, on 1st September 2025 

 
2026

•  A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1st February 2026
•  A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% on 1st June 2026

The revised scales are now available on the Fórsa website and can be viewed here.

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

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan has said the limited data available from the Public Appointments Service (PAS) reveals that appointments to public services roles are not reflective of the diverse communities that they serve. He said the apparent lack of diversity “raises some concerns for the public service more broadly.”

Addressing the Irish Association of Former Parliamentarians, at its 9th annual seminar earlier this month, Kevin said skilled workers from 117 different countries have brought their expertise to our healthcare system and that - without them – “we must question how quickly the provision of healthcare in this country would crumble.”

The theme of the seminar was “The Challenges and Opportunities of a Multicultural Society.”

Kevin said the available data “paints a distinct picture of our healthcare and social work sector. Knowing the vast diversity of our healthcare workers assists us in prioritising how best we can support the people who provide such a vital public service."

“As trade unions, we must ensure that these individuals are protected from discrimination, can be integrated into communities, and are welcomed into new spaces with open arms." Kevin also emphasised that employers have an obligation to provide workplaces that are free from hate speech and in which their staff feel safe.

Kevin added that, in contrast to health service data (from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland), information on the participation of migrant workers is not captured across the entirety of the public service. 

He said limited information available from the Public Appointments System (PAS) shows that 88% of applications, between 2019 and 2021, were from individuals who identified as ‘White Irish,’ and of the appointments during that period, 89% were ‘White Irish’ and a further 6% were ‘White’ from any other background. 

He commented: “What does this limited data tell us? It tells us one thing: these public services roles are not reflective of the diverse communities that they serve. And this raises some concerns for the public service more broadly,” he said.  

Kevin said the Migrant Integration Strategy, adopted by the Government in 2017, included plans for proactive outreach measures to be taken by all public sector employers to increase the number of individuals from an immigrant background working within the public and civil service.

He added: “It also set out an aim to have a civil service which is reflective of Irish society, with 1% of staffing coming from ethnic minority backgrounds. According to the 2019 Progress Report, only 4% of applications came from migrant communities. 

“It’s imperative that the Government not only sets out to monitor its progress but publishes this information as an act of accountability and transparency,” he said.

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

This May will see the first Fórsa Members' National Awards presented at Biennial Conference in Killarney. The new awards, distinct from the Distinguished Service Awards, are open to all members, regardless of years of service.

Members are encouraged to nominate members whose work they feel deserves recognition. The intention is that by putting each other forward, members will celebrate each other’s hard work, learn from one another, and in the process build a more positive and productive union culture.

When discussing the awards, Fórsa President Michael Smyth said “Fórsa’s strength is our members, and so many of you all around the country work tirelessly to make our union a stronger union. With these awards we want to recognise members’ incredible work and celebrate our collective successes.”

Nominations opened on Monday 15th April. Branch Committees are invited to submit nominations for members who have made an achievement or contribution towards building a stronger union. Members are encouraged to contact their Branch Committee with their recommendations for members deserving of nomination.

Nominations are to be made under any one of seven categories:

• Organising award 
• Delivering for members award 
• Campaigning award 
• Recruitment award 
• Community champion award 
• Branch effectiveness award 
• Outstanding pandemic response champion 

The judging panel will review nominations and select winners from in early May. Winners will be informed on 8th May, and awards will be presented during Biennial Conference in Killarney, 15th – 17th May.

Any queries about the awards can be sent to awards@forsa.ie 

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

Ireland’s first ever Trade Union Week takes place next week, running from Monday 29th April to Sunday 5th May. A flurry of member organised events will take place across the island showcasing the strength and diversity of the movement.

Kicking off the festivities with a bang, Bohemian Football Club will line out in a jersey emblazoned with the Better in a Trade Union tagline when they face Dundalk FC in Oriel Park tonight, Friday 26 April. Chris Crowley, a clerical officer and member of Fórsa took part in both the initial video launch of the campaign, and the photo shoot to launch the new strip outside Liberty Hall.  

He joined Bohs players James Akintunde and Anna Hegarty to pose at the Connolly statue alongside members from SIPTU. Chris maintains the campaign has been an incredible conversation starter in his workplace.

Talking about the campaign he said: “It’s to try and get younger people into trade unions and it's to get everyone into a trade union. With numbers we have more power. And it's a great campaign to get involved in. So people have seen the campaign coming up on ads, when they're watching videos with their kids.  It's great to see that it's nationwide,” said Chris.

Fórsa branches are organising events in hospitals, schools, offices and colleges. Several branches have organised joint events with other unions in their workplaces, including with the INMO, SIPTU the INTO and the AHCPS. These joint events are designed to celebrate and mark the on the ground organising done in workplaces by members.

Trade Union Week is part of Better in a Trade Union, an all-island campaign which aims to ensure that all working people are aware of the benefits of being in a trade union, and the strength you have when you’re part of a collective.

Fórsa national secretary and ICTU Vice President Katie Morgan said: “Trade Union Week will be a celebration of unions and union members, and it provides a perfect opportunity to talk to your colleagues about all the reasons they should join Fórsa.”

“Recent Red C research has told us that 44% of workers aged between 18-34 who are working but aren’t already in a union are interested in joining a union. We need to speak to all workers about the benefits of being in a trade union and how they could transform their workplace collectively.”

Fórsa’s Youth Network will host an event in Dublin on Mayday, Wednesday 1st May. The event will feature a panel of young workers in the trade union movement, including Katie Morgan, ICTU Vice-President and Head of Fórsa’s Services and Enterprises Division, Maeve Richardson, ICTU Youth Vice-Chairperson, Hazel Nolan, Fórsa Strategic Change and Eoghan Fox, President of the Galway Trades Council and Mandate NEC member. It will be chaired by Isabella De Luca, Chair of the Fórsa Youth Network.

To attend you can register here. 

As every year the Dublin Council of Trade Unions will hold its annual Mayday March on the 1st of May. Assembly is at 6.30pm at the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, in Dublin 1. More details are available here.

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

Sam Nolan, a stalwart figure in Ireland's workers movement and keeper of the Dublin Mayday flame, passed away in Dublin recently. His personal journey not only traces a life lived at the forefront of countless collective campaigns spanning seven decades, but it also serves as a testament to the profound impact people coming together can have on shaping history.

Born in 1930, his journey into activism began in the aftermath of World War II when he joined the Irish Workers' League.  During the 1950s as the world boomed Ireland went broke, and Sam became involved with the Unemployed Protest Committee, an organisation famous for its rallies outside labour exchanges, marches carrying home-made black coffins and even going onto elect its own TD.

Throughout the 1960s, he played a prominent role in the Dublin Housing Action Committee. Similar to now, a scarcity of housing was exacerbated by a surplus of vacant properties, with the deliberate dereliction and destruction of parts of the city carried out to make way for gleaming modernist office blocks. The hidden history of the Dublin Housing Action Committee’s tactics of militant mass direct action and squatting still echoes down the corridors of the past to inspire housing activists today. 

Sam's dedication to social causes was matched by his commitment to leftist politics. He played a pivotal role in the formation of the Communist Party of Ireland (CPI), serving as its inaugural Deputy General Secretary after the merger of the Irish Workers League and the Communist Party of Northern Ireland in 1970. Sam eventually parted ways with the party, joining the Labour Party instead. Here, he co-founded Labour Left and contributed significantly to the party's administrative council. His work extended beyond politics as he became a full-time organiser for the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians.

Paying tribute to Sam Nolan’s immense contribution to the labour movement, Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said: “Sam was never one to be afraid of the fray, he was deeply involved in the labour movement all his life. Elected first as the Secretary of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions in 1979, he held the position until the 2010s.  Not only did he ensure that there was an annual Dublin Mayday march, but he was one of the people involved in setting off the chain reaction of motions and collective action that led to the creation of a public holiday celebrating Mayday.”  

Speaking to Dublin Community TV in 2011, remarkably on the eve of his 50th Dublin Mayday march address, Sam described how: "We began to agitate that May Day should become a public holiday, and we passed a resolution at the Dublin Council of Trade Unions. Eventually, we garnered support with resolutions passed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. In 1993, during a coalition government with Fianna Fáil and Labour, Ruairí Quinn was the Minister for Enterprise and Trade. Eventually, Ruairí Quinn enacted an order making the first Monday in May a public holiday."

Speaking in the wake of Sam’s death, President Micheal D. Higgins described how “With the passing of Sam Nolan, the Trade Union Movement, the Labour Movement and the entire Left has lost an outstanding figure who played an important role in so many of the key campaigns of the last 70 years. Sam Nolan combined his activism with a substantial knowledge of, and interest in, the history of the workers’ struggle and the forces with which it had to contend.”

While Sam may have passed, his flame will surely not as the annual Mayday March he was involved in for so many years will once again gather on Wednesday 1st, May 2024 at the Garden of Remembrance.

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

Our Skills Academy provides training and development opportunities for our members. Take a look at our upcoming training below.

Lunch and Learn on Financial Resilience Friday 26th April

This month’s instalment of our Lunch and Learn online trainings will be on the topic of Financial Resilience. These lunchtime webinars are designed to share information on a wide range of topics beneficial to members, activists, and representatives. Taking place on the last Friday of every month from 1pm-2pm, each session deals with a different topic.  

This month’s session will be led by Conor Henry, project coordinator and trainer with the Financial Resilience Training Programme at TASC. The hour will focus on day-to-day money management and will cover topics such as budgeting and saving, managing debt, utility costs, and identifying support services.

If you wish to attend the Lunch & Learn session and haven’t registered, please contact Judith in the Skills Academy before 12.00pm Friday 26th April to receive the link. Email skillsacademy@forsa.ie 

Fórsa 101 information session Wednesday 8th May

With six divisions, 87,000 members, hundreds of branches, and thousands of workplaces, Fórsa can seem byzantine to newcomers. Fórsa 101 is a short information and awareness raising session designed to welcome new members and give them a good understanding of how the union works, as well as highlight how members can become more engaged with the union locally. 

This session is targeted at members who have never received any training previously or are not currently active within the union but want to be.

Fórsa 101 is 2 to 2 1/2 hours long and delivered online. The next sessions are Wednesday, 8th May 2024, with sessions available in the morning (9.30am-12pm) or evening (6pm-8.30pm). To register fill out this form. 

Launch of Fórsa’s new Mentoring Programme Thursday 16th May

The Fórsa Skills Academy are excited to announce the launch of our new Mentoring Programme. After a short pilot which ran from February to April this year, the programme will be officially launched during Biennial Conference, at a fringe event in The Brehon Hotel, at 1pm on Thursday 16th May.

The event will feature mentors and mentees sharing their experiences. Speakers with outline future plans for the programme, as well as explaining how branches and workplace representatives can participate in it.

The Brehon is located next door to the INEC where conference is taking place, and lunch will be provided for attendees. If you wish to attend the launch of Fórsa’s new Mentoring Programme, register by filling out this form. 

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

Since 2008, branch activists and staff members of Fórsa have pedalled to the union’s biennial conference in a tradition that has served a dual purpose: promoting physical activity while raising vital funds for charity. 
 
Over the years the event has raised nearly €260,000 for various causes, including cancer research, mental health initiatives, and suicide prevention projects. This achievement is the result of concerted efforts across all levels of the organisation, including contributions from branches, conferences, and support from the National Executive Committee.

This year the cycle will kick off in Limerick, departing from the South Court Hotel at 8.30am Wednesday 15th May, aiming to arrive in Killarney in time for conference registration. A van will be arranged to transport participants’ bikes from Dublin to Limerick and back to Dublin after conference.
 
In 2022, the cycle covered approximately 115 kilometres and raised an impressive €26,805. This was distributed among four deserving charities: Let’s Get Talking, Limerick Treaty Suicide, National Centre for Youth Mental Health, and Suicide or Survive, with each organization receiving €6,701.25. 
 
Fórsa staff Michael Kerrigan, Donna Mooney and Diarmaid Mac a Bhaird are organising this year’s cycle. They urged members to get involved, saying: “This is not a competitive race, it’s all about taking part and doing your bit for a good cause. It would be great to have at least one person representing your branch.”

“It’s a fun cycle, and you don’t have to do the whole cycle to take part in the event. You can share a bike and do 5-10km, or more. You won’t be left behind as we will all arrive at the conference venue at the same time- it’s all for a good cause,” he said.
 
This year branches who wish to donate to a nominated charity in their own area can do so if they are registered. All monies collected will be divided equally among those charities nominated. 
 
For further information, contact Donna Mooney or Michael Kerrigan at 01 817 1500 or email Diarmaid Mac a Bhaird at dmacabhaird@forsa.ie.

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

General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Owen Reidy has called on Government to act and implement the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill as a matter of urgency. 

Speaking ahead the commencement of the Dáil debate on the Bill earlier this month, Owen called on politicians from all parties and none to “get the bill done.”

“Another generation of workers cannot be allowed to have their income and living standards plummet in retirement. It is vital that 2024 is the year when we get the pension auto-enrolment bill done and finally bring an end to our failed voluntary approach to pensions saving. It is long overdue. Ireland remains the only OECD country not to operate auto-enrolment or similar pensions saving scheme,” he said.

By law, employers are required to provide their employees with access to a personal retirement savings account (PRSA) if they do not provide an occupational pension scheme for their employees. There is no obligation on the employer to make a contribution. 

The latest Pensions Authority activity figures show a decline in the number of workers with an occupational pension, at a time when more people are in employment than ever before. A recent CSO report on pension coverage shows that 1 in 20 employees with a pension had a PRSA only.
 
“Given that the State pension is paid at a flat €277.30 a week, workers without the income top-up from retirement savings - two-thirds of today’s private sector workers - are exposed to a significant drop in their normal living standards in old age,” he continued. 

The ICTU General Secretary remarked that the introduction of auto-enrolment in the UK in 2012 has been an extraordinary policy success, as the proportion of employees with a workplace pension has jumped from 47% to almost 80%.

“We welcome the provisions in the Bill for a worker representative on the board and to consider expanding auto-enrolment to younger, lower paid and self-employed workers and death in service cover - all of which Congress called for at pre-legislative stage – within five years of automatic enrolment coming into operation for the first 800,000 eligible employees.”

“But we strongly call for the seven-year deadline provided for in the Bill for setting minimum contribution rates into existing pension schemes to be shortened. It will be a bitter pill to swallow for workers who find themselves with a lower or, in cases of personal pensions, no employer contribution all because they had proactively taken steps to save for their retirement prior to auto-enrolment,” he said. 

Mr Reidy said that politicians have been talking about introducing a mandatory pay-related pensions saving scheme for “longer than they have been talking about the pension age.”

“Now that we are finally within touching distance of making a meaningful difference to hard-working people’s retirement, it is imperative that all politicians work together to get the legislation passed,” he said. 

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

On Wednesday May 15th in Dalymount Park, Dublin an historic friendly match between the Palestinian women’s national team and Bohemian FC women’s team. Tickets are on sale from the bohemians website. 

Over 200 days of horror have unfolded for the people of Gaza. Over the months Irish people have showed solidarity as best they can attenidng protests and fundraising. This football match presents another opportunity to do that. A large turnout at the match would show the Palestinian team that Irish solidarity is not wavering.

The Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid said: “I am very proud to welcome our women’s football team that will be playing in Ireland for the first time in its history. Thank you to the Irish people and thank you Bohemian FC.”

Tickets for the game (adult €40, concession €20) will cover the visit of the Palestinian team and delegation, with the remainder will be split between charities Palestine Sport for Life, Medical Aid for Palestinians and Aclaí Palestine.

Those who cannot attend but who wish to make a donation or purchase a non-attendance ticket for this fundraiser can do so on the bohemians website. 

Matt Devaney, President of Bohemian FC said: “We want this to be a very special few days for the Palestinian team visiting Ireland. We hope the public get behind our efforts to raise a substantial sum to assist and highlight the plight of people in a truly dire situation.”

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