Fórsa and other public service unions are expecting contact from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told RTÉ that the Government was prepared to make an improved offer in pay talks.

The head of Fórsa’s local government and municipal employees’ divisions, Dessie Robinson (pictured left), is retiring from the union today (Friday).

Talks between water service employers, Fórsa, and other unions in the sector have intensified recently and sign-off on final proposals on the future of Ireland’s water services is expected shortly.

Additional working time introduced in the public service in 2013 will no longer be worked with effect from next Friday (1st July), when thousands of civil and public servants will see their working time restored to pre-austerity levels.

Fórsa representatives are continuing to engage with the agriculture department on the proposed transfer of local authority veterinary staff to the civil service. The union is involved in a series of meetings as part of a working group to address staff concerns.

Fórsa is engaged in intensive negotiations following a Dublin City Council communication to staff about an incorrect PRSI classification.

Fórsa has backed the growing calls for domestic violence leave legislation. The union’s national secretary Ashley Connolly said the Covid-19 pandemic had exposed the need for a better response to victims of domestic violence.