The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is set to host an important seminar examining the often-overlooked issue of gender in occupational health and safety. “One Size Does Not Fit All: Focusing on Gender in Occupational Health and Safety” will take place on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at the CWU Office in Dublin.   

The seminar will be chaired by Katie Morgan, Vice President of ICTU, and will feature discussions by a range of experts on the challenges and gaps in workplace health and safety policies concerning women.  

The event aims to highlight the fact that health and safety research, policy development, and workplace protections have traditionally been designed with men in mind, often failing to account for the distinct risks and needs of women in the workforce.  

ICTU reports that many occupational hazards affecting women are either overlooked or insufficiently addressed in workplace policies. This seminar will explore the implications of this oversight and discuss ways to develop more inclusive and effective safety measures that cater to the needs of all workers.  

The seminar will feature a panel discussion, which will explore the issue of gender in workplace health and safety from a range of perspectives. Tara Horigan, Fórsa Vice President, will be sharing her expertise as part of the panel, along with speakers from the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).  

With gender equality and workplace safety gaining increasing attention, this seminar is expected to generate meaningful dialogue and actionable insights towards safer and more inclusive working conditions across all sectors.  

Fórsa is encouraging members to attend. Interested members should register their interest by contacting Natalie Higgins at natalie.higgins@ictu.ie.

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Fiona Dunne, Fórsa’s director of membership, training and development, encouraged members to sign up before places run out. Fiona explained that the training programmes are designed to equip members with the skills and knowledge needed to perform their roles to the best of their abilities.  

She also highlighted the broader impact of these courses, stating, “The skills members take away from these training courses not only benefit them in their union role but also greatly contribute to their professional and personal goals outside of their work with Fórsa.” She emphasised that by building confidence and capabilities across different issues, members can strengthen their expertise and expand their opportunities. 

With a variety of training programmes available this spring, there is something for everyone—whether you are new to Fórsa or looking to build on your existing skills. Below are some key upcoming courses designed to support you in your union role and beyond. 

Fórsa Induction, 12th March - Online 

If you want to learn more about what Fórsa does and how you can be more involved with the union, this induction is a great chance to get started! An awareness raising session built to welcome new Fórsa members, this programme is specifically targeted to those who have never received any training previously or are not currently active within Fórsa but want to be more involved. You can sign up for it here.

Level 1 Workplace Rep Training, 25th-27th March – Wexford 

 The only programme of its kind in the south-east region, the Level 1 workplace representative training runs over three days and is an intensely rewarding exercise for newly elected workplace representatives, or those with less than 2 years representative experience (who have attended Fórsa Induction or Fórsa 101 in the past). 

Over the three days, you will cover all the basic skills and information required to confidently carry out your role, and to survive your first year as a workplace rep!  

The course is offered in seven locations throughout the country. The dates are Tuesday 25th March, Wednesday 26th March and Thursday 27th March 2025. You can register here. 

The course covers all the necessary skills and information that new representatives require to give them confidence in this role and get them through their first year. Topics include: 

• Branch structure and roles of the Executive Committee 
• The role and responsibilities of the workplace representative 
• Organising and recruiting members 
• An introduction to health and safety 
• An overview of equality in the trade union agenda 
• Industrial relations, handling members' problems and local representation 

Level 2 Workplace Rep Training Part 3 – Health & Safety, 18th March - Galway 

The second level of our Workplace Rep training is on health and safety. This programme comprises of three parts, all of which must be completed, is aimed at those who have already completed the Level 1 Workplace Representative training.  

Members who have applied to do Level 2 will be required to complete all its modules to be eligible to receive their certificates. 

Applications will close as soon as the course capacity is reached, so if you are interested in this course, we recommend you confirm your place as soon as possible.  

Live: Lunch & Learn: Member Communication, 28th February - Online 

The next lunch and learn session will be held on Friday 28th February on the topic of communicating with members. Our speaker will be Hannah Deasy, Fórsa’s director of member communications. Come join us on this brief online meeting to hear about communication tips and ask questions on effective ways to reach out to your colleagues.  

Hannah will speak about ways to improve how you communicate with members whether you are a branch officer or a workplace rep. She will also talk about how Fórsa’s bi-monthly bulletin is produced, and what communications resources are available to members.

You can register for it here. 

If you have any questions about these programmes or would like to know more, please contact skillsacademy@forsa.ie. 

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After two successful events to kick off 2025, Fórsa Youth is planning a table quiz on Thursday, 20th March to raise funds for Stop the Wall. Stop the Wall is a grassroots Palestinian campaign that has been organising resistance against the apartheid wall since its construction in 2002. 

Fórsa Youth held a highly successful information night titled "What the Fórsa" on Thursday, 30th January. Held at Fórsa HQ, the event brought together members from across the civil and public service, offering them a unique opportunity to learn more about unions, their role, and the various ways to get involved with the union’s activities. 

The evening featured an insightful panel consisting of Fiona Dunne, director of training, Michael Kerrigan, assistant general secretary and Fórsa Youth’s own recruitment officer, Aine Bullock.  

The panel shared their expertise on what a union is, how unions help workers, and the importance of attracting more members to strengthen the movement. The event was chaired by Fórsa Youth chair, Hugh McInerney, who guided the discussions and facilitated questions from the audience. 

What the Fórsa event, L-R Hugh McInerney (Fórsa Youth chair), Aine Bullock (Fórsa Youth recruitment officer), Michael Kerrigan, (Fórsa Youth assistant general secretary), and Fiona Dunne ( Fórsa director membership, training and development)

The following day, Friday 31st January, saw Fórsa Youth’s first network meeting of 2025. The committee outlined its plans for the year and were delighted with the ideas and engagement of all those who attended.  

The meeting concluded with a vote on the campaigns to prioritise, with members selecting political issues such as the housing crisis, outsourcing, underfunding of public services, and a low-pay campaign. These campaigns are set to guide Fórsa Youth’s advocacy efforts throughout 2025, with a strong focus on improving the lives of workers across Ireland. 

Fórsa Youth’s network meeting, L-R Rachel Fennelly (Fórsa Youth secretary) and Hugh McInerney (Fórsa Youth chair). 

As 2025 progresses, Fórsa Youth will continue to provide opportunities for members to become more active and engaged with the union’s mission. If you are interested in getting involved, email forsayncsecretary@forsa-rep.ie.   

The next Fórsa Youth event is a table quiz in aid of Stop the Wall on Thursday, 20th March in Fórsa HQ, with more details to follow. Stop the Wall is a grassroots organisation campaigning against the separation barrier built by Israel along the Green Line and inside parts of the West Bank. The next meeting is planned for Friday, 11th April in Galway.

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The Annual General Meeting of the Fórsa Retired Members Association (RMA) will take place on Thursday 6th March 2025 at Fórsa’s offices in Nerney’s Court at 11am. 

Over the past year, our retired members have been more active than ever, as the group takes on a greater role within the union. In recent months, chair of the RMA, Martin Bridgeman, has been travelling across the country, speaking at AGMs to promote retired membership.  

Discussing the benefits of staying involved in the union after retirement, Martin said: “Just because you’re leaving work doesn’t mean you have to leave the union. Many members don’t know that they can continue to be a member of Fórsa after they retire. In fact, not only can you stay a member, but you also continue to benefit from a wide range of benefits and stay connected to your wider union community.” 

The Retired Members Association was established to support retired members of Fórsa by providing practical, relevant advice on issues like pension rights as well as developing a vibrant community of retired individuals to socially engage and support each other in retirement. Membership is open to all retired members. You can find out more here. 

The RMA focuses on protecting pension terms and conditions, advocating for timely pension payments, and addressing issues, such as occupational pensions, state pensions, social welfare benefits, health matters, personal security, retirement planning, and public transport. 

Join the upcoming AGM to have your say, stay connected, and help shape the future of retired membership! 

Agenda, minutes and link for people attending online will be issued through branches. Motions and nominations will be accepted on the day.  

For more information email: RMA_Chair@forsa-rep.ie 

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Fórsa and the INMO are working with members and activists around the country to establish Joint Organising Committees (JOCs). These committees will be tasked with collecting and collating accurate information regarding vacant posts, maternity leave positions left unfilled, use of third-party contractors and more. This information will be used to plan the industrial action approved by members late last year.  

The unions aim to have the committees up and running by the end of February, with a meeting due to take place next week that will bring together all those who have decided to get involved. 

This is a significant undertaking that will see over 50 hospital committees, a further 21 integrated health areas (IHA) committees, as well as committees for national services, established across each of the six health regions.

Encouraging members to step up and get involved head of the Health and Welfare division Ashley Connolly said: “Only by working together in every area of the HSE, will you achieve the outcome that you want. We’ve created these committees to bring together Fórsa and INMO members to plan effective industrial action. Now more than ever, it is important that members remain vigilant and engage with their representatives to continue the fight to protect services.” 

When the unions wrote to Bernard Gloster, HSE CEO, informing him of the plan to establish JOCs he responded stating that all regions must operate within the Pay and Numbers strategy and that “is not a matter for change.” 

Reassuring members that the union will continue to push back against the PNS, national secretary Linda Kelly said: “This position is simply untenable given the mandate the union received from you and your colleagues and the desire from members to have a functioning and transparent workforce planning process within the HSE.” 

If you want to see a significant change to the current chaotic approach to workforce planning by the HSE, please contact your local branch and official to get involved.  

Late last year Fórsa members working for the HSE and Section 38 Voluntary Hospitals voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action. 

The ballot was organised in response to the HSE's suppression of thousands of vacant posts as part of their ‘Pay and Numbers’ strategy which the union has called a ‘recruitment embargo’ by any other name. 93.6% voted in favour of industrial action, with a turnout of 60.8%. 

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A date has been confirmed for an engagement at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), following recent union efforts to recommence the adjourned WRC negotiations on pay in health service employments in the community and voluntary sector. These employments are often known as section 39, 56,and 10 organisations.   

The parties are to reconvene at the WRC on Monday 3rd March. 

The new Programme for Government contains a commitment to "to progress pay issues that affect the delivery of disability services and the long-term viability of organisations within the sector," and it’s reported that a plan will be brought to Cabinet by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley TD. 

The ICTU-led group of unions contacted Minister Foley in recent weeks, seeking the recommencement of talks, following her appointment in January. Unions have continued to pursue the completion of a talks process aimed at creating pay parity between healthcare workers in the sector and their equivalents in the HSE and Section 38 employments.  

The 2023 WRC agreement provided for a process to re-establish the link to public service pay terms, as the community and voluntary sector continues with the challenge of recruiting and retaining skilled healthcare workers. 

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Health unions met with HSE management yesterday, Thursday 20th February, for discussions on proposed changes to work patterns in health settings,

Following the discussions, the parties confirmed that the 2008 Framework Agreement would remain in place, and that no unilateral roster changes imposed.

The meeting had long been scheduled but attracted media attention in recent days following last Friday’s (14th February) memo to HSE senior staff, which appeared to sanction the introduction of an extended working day (8 to 8) and an extended working week (five days over seven) for all staff employed or promoted since December 2008. 

The memo was issued despite ongoing concerns about adequate health staff resources following the effects of the 2023/24 moratorium on recruitment, and the subsequent publication of the HSE’s ‘Pay and Numbers’ strategy document last July, which illustrated the loss of thousands of previously sanctioned posts in health. 

Responding to the memo, Fórsa’s head of Health and Welfare Ashley Connolly told Bernard Gloster that he may have instructed his senior managers “to disregard a long-established Framework Agreement” and said it was “regrettable” he had chosen to issue the instruction in advance of yesterday’s scheduled meeting.  

Ashley advised that any unilateral instruction to staff to change their working hours would “necessitate an appropriate response.” She also sought clarification from the HSE chief on the requirement for managers to fully adhere to the Framework Agreement.

Ashley advised Fórsa members on Monday, 17th February, that, if they are approached by management, seeking to change their contracted hours or days of work, members should direct management to send proposals to the relevant Fórsa official. The multi-union National Joint Council (NJC) also wrote to Gloster this week seeking specific information on where services are to be expanded and details of funding increases for service expansion, in line with the terms of the Framework Agreement. 

Following yesterday’s meeting, the parties confirmed that the Framework Agreement would remain in place. 

‘No specific proposals’ 

In an interview with Pat Kenny on Newstalk yesterday, Thursday 20th February, Fórsa national secretary Linda Kelly said the problem that’s emerged is that the HSE doesn't have specific proposals for what service development it wants to extend: “That has always been the crux of the issue. In August 2023 they made the same approach to unions in relation to wanting to implement this contract from 2008.” 

“We met then and we said there’s a very clear framework, requiring the HSE to provide the plans as to what the objective was, what the cost benefit was, and what is the impact on rosters and numbering?” she said. 

Linda said the HSE had since never come back to the unions with any proposals: “There is definitely a mismatch in terms of planning for services, and what the HSE is saying publicly.  

“Fórsa members have identified real problems in terms of staffing within the HSE, despite what Bernard Gloster says. It’s very clearly identified in his own memo about resources. 

“We know that there are parts of the health service where, because of the Pay and Numbers strategy, we have huge gaps in terms of staff, and they're filling that gap through the provision of agency staff.  

“They're spending ridiculous amounts of money on private for-profit consultancy firms, and there isn't an ambitious plan to provide high quality public services delivered by public servants in the way that the public needs,” she said. 

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The HSE restructuring process, which aims to establish six health regions, is currently in an interim period which is due to end on Monday 3rd March. At a meeting on Monday 17th February the HSE confirmed that the next phase would be a six-month ‘implementation period’. However, as the union underlined and the HSE confirmed, there is nothing agreed to implement yet and therefore discussions will continue over the months ahead. 

In practical terms this means that all structures below the level of senior management team, will remain unchanged during this period, while discussions are ongoing about the appropriate future structure within each health region.  

As part of the transition to Sláintecare Fórsa has been involved in ongoing engagement with the HSE  around restructuring. First announced in 2019, the health regions were designed to devolve HSE decision-making and allow for regional planning, funding, and delivery of integrated health care services. Though six Regional Executive Officers (REOs) have been appointed, numerous issues remain under discussion. 

These include grading of management roles, heads of service, networks of care and clinical care programmes, a regional director of HSCP, a regional disability role, HR operating models and more.   

At the same meeting it became clear that the private consultancy firm PWC are heavily involved in mapping the staff and grading structure across the different health regions.

Fórsa expressed significant concerns about the over involvement of a private for-profit third-party company in the health regions restructuring process and asked for the costs associated with the use of private consultancies. In a letter to members issued on Thursday 20th February national secretaries Ashley Connolly and Linda Kelly reminded members that they should not engage with or provide information to PWC Ireland or any similar private for-profit consultancy firm.  

The next meeting on health regions restructuring will place on Friday 21st March and the union will continue to update members.  

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On Tuesday 18th February, Fórsa issued a union instruction to members working in children’s disability services. This guidance advises members not to participate in any meetings, either in-person or online, any surveys, emails or other activities, that relate to a review being conducted by the National Disability Authority (NDA) on the children’s disability network teams (CDNT) service model. 

In December 2024 Fórsa received an ultimatum from the HSE, stating that it intended to proceed with the NDA review terms of reference, despite outstanding concerns from members. 

In response, Fórsa sought clarification on several issues and requested a revised project outline from the HSE and NDA.  Fórsa did not receive any further correspondence or follow-up from the management side.  

However, in recent weeks the union has learnt that a number of professional bodies and advocacy organisations have been invited to join the advisory group of the review.  

In a letter to Bernard O’Regan, HSE head of operations with responsibility for disabilities, Fórsa national secretary Linda Kelly expressed disappointment that the National Disability Authority (NDA) had begun inviting stakeholders to a review advisory group when members’ concerns have not been fully addressed.  

She said: “It would appear that your office has reverted to the previous pattern of intensive engagement followed by long periods of silence during which matters of disagreement are progressed, presumably, with a view of presenting them back to Fórsa as a fait accompli.” 

“Fórsa has at all times engaged on the issue of the NDA review and been constructive about the concerns our members have. That this would be the approach of the HSE at the end of that process is very disappointing.”  

Although the letter was acknowledged, management has not engaged substantively with the issues raised. As a result, the union issued an instruction to members. 

Linda underlined the importance of the issue saying: “We welcome the need for a comprehensive review of the CDNT service model. Our members are on the front line of this model of care every day and they know the pressure points in service provision better than anyone else. So, if their concerns aren’t taken into the design of the process there is little chance the review will achieve its aims.” 

Fórsa represents members working in children’s disability services, employed both by the HSE and lead agencies, including Enable Ireland, BOC, CRC, Avista, St Michaels house, COPE/Horizons, St Gabriel’s, St Joseph’s Foundation, Stewarts Care, KARE, and CoAction.  

If you have any queries regarding the union’s advice, please contact your workplace rep or your local branch executive committee in the first instance.  

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A ballot of Fórsa members at Barnardos began last Friday 14th February and will run for 3 weeks until Friday 7th March. 

The dispute is in relation to the organisation’s failure to pay workers the increases outlined in the terms of a 2023 Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) agreement on pay for workers in the community and voluntary sector. Of the 8% payable under the terms of the 2023 WRC agreement, only 4% has been paid. In addition, the employer has refused to engage with Fórsa on the issue. 

Barnardos is a charity, part-funded by the State, providing services to vulnerable children and families.   

The October 2023 WRC settlement applies to health service employments in the community and voluntary sector (sections 39, 56, 10) and was instrumental in averting sector-wide strike action at the time.   

Barnardos management has claimed the funding received from Government to implement the pay increases allowed for in the 2023 deal were partly used to ‘reimburse’ a pay increase to staff in 2022, which was agreed and implemented around 18 months before the 2023 agreement. 

Fórsa official Louise O’Hara emphasised that members working in Barnardos are deeply committed to their work. She argued that it was unfair for employees who go above and beyond to have their nationally agreed pay increase withheld. “This ballot gives them an opportunity to express how they feel about the situation,” she said. 

“We sought clarification from the State funding bodies and they have confirmed that the money allocated for these raises is not for reimbursement, and that there is no provision in the 2023 agreement for an employer to unilaterally decide to take any of the funding for pay as a reimbursement for increases that predate the agreement.” 

Louise continued: “It’s reasonable to wonder why Barnardos sought reimbursement when audited accounts for 2023, show that they had more than €15m, of mostly unrestricted funding, in reserves? But because Barnardos won’t engage with Fórsa on this matter and have declined an invitation to talks by the Workplace Relations Commission, we haven't been provided any answers to that question." 

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Following the appointment of the new government, there has been a changing of the guard in the Departments with which Fórsa’s Health & Welfare division works most regularly. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has become Minister for Health, while Norma Foley TD has taken on the Children, Disability, and Equality portfolio. 

Fórsa national secretaries Ashley Connolly and Linda Kelly have written to both Ministers, welcoming them to their new positions and outlining the union’s position regarding ongoing disputes and outstanding commitments. The letters also seek meetings with both Ministers. 

The dispute over the HSE’s pay and numbers strategy is the central focus in the letter to the new Minister of Health. It underlines the union’s position that the strategy has led to “persistent shortages” which have placed an “unsustainable burden on existing staff, leading to increased workloads, burnout, and compromised service delivery.” It warns the Minister of the need for an “immediate revision of staffing policies.” 

Highlighting the issue of low morale among healthcare workers, the letter states that healthcare workers are feeling “undervalued and overburdened,” and that if the issue is not addressed it will risk “further exacerbating workforce retention challenges and compromising service delivery.” 

The issue of pay in the community and voluntary sector is covered in both letters, with Ashley and Linda reminding the new Ministers that commitments were made during and after the general election to reconvene pay talks.  

The letter to Minister Foley outlined the challenges workers in disability services face, with similar issues of prevalent low morale.  

As children’s disability services now fall under Minister Foley’s responsibilities, the letter lays out some of the larger challenges she will face in addressing the system’s deficiencies. It also names the lack of adequate resourcing in the change programme for the policy shift to Progressing Disabilities as a significant contributing factor to the problems in children’s disability services, as well as the persistent disregard of members’ needs. 

Fórsa represents all HSCP and clerical admin staff working across children’s disability services, whether in primary care or in children’s disability network teams. The letter impressed upon Minister Foley the need for a step change in engagement. 

Speaking about the letters, Ashley Connolly, Head of the Health and Welfare Division, said: 

“Our members have consistently expressed their frustration with the daily challenges they witness across the health service, yet their voices go unheard. We have written to the Minister requesting an opportunity to meet and convey our members' primary concerns, focusing on practical solutions to these pressing issues.” 

Linda Kelly, Fórsa national secretary, responsible for HSCP, Pharmacy and Statutory Regulation, said: “Our members keep the health service in this country going. Without proper engagement it simply won’t be possible to reduce waiting lists or enhance patient safety and outcomes. We look forward to engaging with Ministers Carroll MacNeill and Foley on these issues.” 

Fórsa represents over 32,000 health workers including health and social care professionals, pharmacy staff, clerical, administrative, management and technical staff working within the Health Service Executive and funded agencies, Tusla and the wider community & voluntary Sector. 

The letter to Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD can be read here.

The letter to Minister Norma Foley TD can be read here. 

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The union’s newly established LGBTQIA+ network met at Nerney’s Court in Dublin yesterday, Thursday 20th February.  While the network was formally launched in November, yesterday’s meeting was the first working meeting.  

The creation of the network resulted from a motion passed at Fórsa’s biennial conference in May 2024. Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion proposed by the Galway Health and Local Government branch to establish a network to support all members and staff who are a member of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Rob Partridge (Galway Health and Local Government branch) was elected Chair of the LGBTQIA+ Network

Rob Partridge, who presented the motion at conference, was elected Chair of Fórsa’s LGBTQIA+ network. Rob said that LGBTQIA+ rights are workers’ rights, and trade unions have always been at the heart of fighting for better conditions and protections for all workers. “What this network aims to do is to make sure our voices are heard. And to build on the power of our union with its 89,000 members, to make sure our employers hear us too,” he emphasised.  

Rob added “Our community is very publicly under attack in the western world as we speak; it is a dark time for us. To see such solidarity is a much-needed reminder that our strength has always come from each other. Societies target us at different times in different ways, but we always come through it as a community. They are not going to win this time either. We are.” 

A recent survey of Fórsa members pointed to the ongoing and ever-increasing need for a network like this. 53% said they had experienced direct harassment as a result of their LGBTQIA+ identity, including: Verbal (52%), Physical (18%), Sexual (6%), Online trolling (18%), and Doxing (2%). 

79% have also experienced discrimination in the workplace because of their LGBTQIA+ identity.  

Ryan McKinney, the national secretary supporting the network, said the establishment of this crucial network in Fórsa displays the sheer power that a simple conference motion can have.

Ryan said: “If you are going through something or feel strongly about an issue, just know you are not alone. Make sure you use the democratic tools available to you and voice your concern. It can truly be surprising just how much support you can get once you do that – and the changes that can stem from your one act of courage.” 

Spanning back decades, the trade union movement has been central in the fight to secure LGBTQIA+ rights in Ireland. You can read more about that history in a recently published book by Kieran Rose Trade Union and LGBT Rights: A Personal History.

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In our last issue, we asked you, our members, for your feelings on remote working. Many of you took the opportunity to share your thoughts. While responses were overwhelmingly in favour of maintaining blended working arrangements, there was considerable variety in the reasons members want to retain access to flexible work options.  

Sick of the commute 

The most often cited issue for members was that a full time return to the office would increase the amount of time they spend commuting to and from work.  

A member from the Services and Enterprises division crunched the numbers and found that his commute adds roughly an additional 500 hours (70 days) per year, at a cost of €5K. 

A member from the Civil Service division was concerned about the environmental impact of thousands of public service workers commuting into the office an extra day or two a week. He said, “The carbon footprint for needlessly dragging staff into offices should be calculated and laid at the doorstep of that department.” 

For some members working in Dublin, living in the city is simply not viable. One Civil Service member who is currently working remotely, shared that she “was finally able to afford to purchase my first home” though this means commuting from Laois to Dublin on office days.  

Another member tells of a cross-country commute from Donegal to Dublin three days a week. Explaining why she does it, this member said: “it would not be financially viable to stay in Dublin full time and, as a parent, not viable from a caring point of view either.” 

Caring 

Family and care responsibilities were the next most common issue for members. Remote working is allowing members to spend more time with their children. A Civil Service member commented: "Working from home changed my life” and meant she has “much more time with my children and for myself.” Another, father of two young children, said: “We can properly share the dropping and collecting of our kids.” 

A member from the Local Government and Local Services division said remote working gives them the option to stay in the job despite having “no consistent childcare” and describing local childcare options as “practically non-existent.” 

Care responsibilities kept one member out of the workforce for decades. After raising her children and caring for a sick parent she was finally able to return to work: “I could have re-started my career at least 10 years earlier had work from home existed pre-Covid.”  

Accommodating all workers  

The benefit of remote working for those living with a disability is also reflected by members’ experiences. One member who lives with a visual impairment said, “working from home allows people with disabilities to fully engage with the workplace.” 

Another member was concerned about people with what she described as ‘invisible’ disabilities: for workers with autism, like herself, working in a moderately busy office can be “unreasonably stressful.” This is because, for autistic people who are sensitive to sensory overload, even an average office can make it “impossible to concentrate.” 

Despite its overall popularity, remote working still had its detractors. One civil service member said: “Blended working was only for Covid, and I think going forward all staff should come into the office five days a week.”  

Some feel a better balance is needed. Another member expressed a preference to have one or two days a week in the office. She said: “working from home 90% of the time, as is our case, can be quite isolating, not good for your mental health and wellbeing and your confidence.” 

The picture painted in members’ responses is that maintaining access to remote working options is crucial. It is allowing them to work productively while, at the same time, saving money and giving them more time with family.  

Overall, it is clear that members highly value remote working, as echoed by one Civil Service member: “There is no going back.” 

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An event to mark three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will take place on Monday 24th February at the Russian Embassy in Dublin. The event, which takes place from 3pm, has been organised by a group of activists, including a retired member of Fórsa, who have continued to hold a peaceful protest at the embassy since the February 2022 invasion. 

John Farrelly, retired from the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) a few of years ago and was an active member of the union. He is one of a number of regular protesters that have, since the invasion of Ukraine on 24th February 2022, gathered daily outside the Russian Embassy in Dublin. 

He explained: “As part of our ongoing protest we are organising this event to mark three years of Russian invasion and full-scale war. The situation remains critical, so we have stayed on this peaceful protest at the embassy on Orwell Road for three years,” he said. 

As global concern mounts in response to the US administration’s approach to peace talks with Russia, that has so far excluded Ukraine and EU representation, Monday’s protest welcomes friends, family and supporters to gather and remember those who have been killed in Ukraine, including Pierre Zakrewski, Rory Mason, Finbar Cafferkey and Graham Dale. 

“As the illegal invasion of Ukraine continues, we wanted to give people the opportunity to reflect, to remember the thousands of innocent civilians killed, injured and displaced by this war, in a spirit of solidarity with the people of Ukraine,” he remarked. 

John says the group of protesters who gather at the Russian embassy is a very diverse group of individuals: “The unifying force for us as a group is a fierce determination to oppose the criminal invasion of Ukraine by Putin and his regime.” 

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The Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Stronger Together Anti Racist Trade Unions & Workplaces project is now in its second year. The project’s mission is to make unions and the workplace more welcoming for people of an ethnic minority background and migrant workers. As part of that mission, the project is offering several training sessions to union members, free of charge. 

This February, we are bringing back the ethnic minority/migrant worker leadership training. This half-day workshop will take place in Dublin and is open to migrant workers and those from an ethnic minority background. 

Over the course of a morning, participants will learn how to enhance their leadership skills and familiarise themselves with effective workplace advocacy. This course hopes to increase participation of people of an ethnic minority background and migrant workers within union structures. 

For anyone unable to make the February date or living in the North, a second date is available in Belfast in April. 

On Thursday 27th February a workshop on Trade Unions & Civil Society: Working Together to Combat Racism will take place. This half day training will take place in Wexford and will show participants the importance of collaborative action between trade unions and civil society organisations when tackling social justice issues. It will also work on developing strategies to tackle far-right narratives and actions. 

Also, the Training the Trainers workshop will take place the next day at the Wexford Trade Union Centre. This is a full-day workshop open to all trade union representatives and members. It will be especially beneficial for members working in a training or education setting. 

This workshop covers a range of topics, including effective responses to racism in training settings and interactive activities designed to promote anti-racism. 

If you are interested in attending a course, please email antiracism@ictu.ie with your name, title, union affiliation, and the course title and location.  

If you can’t attend these dates, don’t worry, additional sessions will be announced soon. 

Ethnic Minority/Migrant Worker Leadership Training 

• Tuesday, 25th February, ICTU Offices, 31/32 Parnell Square, Dublin. (10am to 1pm). 

OR

• Tuesday, 1st April, ICTU Offices NI, 45-47 Donegall Street Belfast BT1 2FG. (11am to 2pm). 

Trade Unions & Civil Society: Working Together to Combat Racism 

• Thursday, 27th February, Wexford Trade Union Centre  

Training the Trainers 

• Friday, February 28th, Wexford Trade Union Centre 

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.