Fórsa and the HSE have agreed on a set of proposals at the WRC, in talks aimed at resolving the dispute arising from the HSE’s recruitment embargo on clerical, administrative and management grades imposed last October. Talks concluded late on Tuesday night (6^th February).

Fórsa’s head of Health and Welfare, Ashley Connolly, wrote to branches on Wednesday to advise them that the union’s divisional executive had decided to suspend the union’s campaign of industrial action, following agreement on the WRC proposals.

Ashley added: “The parties are now required to finalise the discussion on a framework document, currently in draft form. This will require local engagement, at regular intervals, to address any ongoing recruitment issues.”

Fórsa representatives are to meet the HSE next week to discuss the next steps in finalising the framework document.

Ashley said the work-to-rule action, and all forms of industrial action, are now suspended, with immediate effect, and said members should now forward relevant KPIs, financial data and statistical information.

She acknowledged the “extensive work” undertaken by branch executives and workplace representatives in recent months, and thanked members for their support and solidarity throughout.

In making its recommendation, the WRC noted that the HSE “acknowledges the integral and equally important role of clerical admin and managerial grades across the health service,” and that their role and function is “vital and must be maintained as a core profession in health care delivery.” It noted also that the HSE is “committed to ensuring a positive working environment”.

Fórsa’s industrial action in response to the recruitment freeze led to the cancellation of a number of regional health forums, in addition to delays to answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations, while minimising disruption to patients and other service users.

WRC Settlement Terms

1. It is accepted by all parties that since 2022 the number of positions recruited into the HSE exceeded approved funding levels.
2. It is recognised by the parties that the HSE is required to return to the approved WTE figure.
3. In the intervening period it is accepted by both parties that the numbers may fluctuate due to service exigencies throughout 2024.
4. Within the overall approved WTE figure the HSE agrees to replace positions that fall vacant and which are necessary to continually meet service needs.
5. In the context of vacancies that arose between 1 September 2023 and 13 December 2023 and remain to be filled, the parties agree to reviewing them as part of the Framework process.
6. The parties agree to resume engagement to develop a specific Framework Agreement in relation to the recruitment of management and admin staff. This engagement to resume as a matter of priority with a view to being concluded no later than 8 March 2024.
7. In the absence of mobility options for staff working in the HSE, the parties agree to engage with a view to developing a policy in relation to lateral movement. This will commence no later than 29 February 2024.
8. In recognising the vital role of clerical admin and managerial grades the HSE commits to a culture that encourages career progression, through the filling of promotional positions via direct employment.
9. In line with the proposed framework agreement agency staff should not be used to fill vacancies, other than in exceptional circumstances where it has proven impossible to fill via direct recruitment.
10. It is agreed that the number and location of New Development posts in 2024 will be identified to Fórsa. It is agreed these will be filled once the PNS has been approved and that these are separate to any other vacancies.
11. The HSE confirms that clerical admin/managerial grades will be treated no less favourably than any other grade or category of staff in future agreements relating to employment.
12. The HSE accept that staff are required to work their contracted hours only, and discharge the function of a post, commensurate with their grading. Adhering to the principle of “one person, one job” the HSE agrees that staff are not required to take on the work of a vacant post(s) in addition to their own work. However, with consultation and agreement priority tasks may be allocated.
13. The principles of meaningful engagement and consultation as enshrined within successive public service agreements will be observed and respected.

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

Fórsa have achieved a major win for members working in children’s disability services following discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

A set of serious and significant proposals were agreed related to the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023 – 2026, Disability Services for Children and Young People. As a result, the union instruction of non-cooperation was withdrawn with immediate effect on Friday 26 January 2024.

The proposals include a commitment to deliver a workforce plan for disability services by June 2024 and the recruitment of Interim Discipline Managers for the 6 professions (Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Social Work, Dietetics, Psychology) in the model by the 1st March 2024 in each of the nine Community Health Organisations (CHOs).

Both of these have been longstanding asks by Fórsa. The detailed proposals can be read in full here.

In addition, there were significant commitments made on prioritisation and clinical governance reviews – a core concern of our members. There will also be a review of the Children’s Disability Network Manager role and job description.

Finally, it was agreed that Fórsa representation will be part of the Service Improvement Programme Board level and within all 5 working groups of the Roadmap.

Fórsa National Secretary Linda Kelly said: “We instructed our members not to engage with the development of the Roadmap back in October because we knew that staffing concerns would make implementation impossible. In addition, our members, as well as service users, were excluded from the initial development of the Roadmap, which was unacceptable.”

“Following negotiations, we are now pleased that our members will be part of the roll out of this new approach to the provision of disability services for children and young people. The commitment to hire Discipline Managers across the six professions represents a real step forward that will be of tangible benefit to our members.”

A national meeting for all workplace representatives working in children’s disability services will be held in the weeks ahead, details will be shared shortly.

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

Fórsa has contacted all its members providing health and welfare services in the community and voluntary sector (Section 39, 56, 10 and 40 organisations), to advise of the union’s efforts to speed up the payments due to workers, following the outcome of the WRC agreement last October.

In a letter to members last week (31^st January) the union’s head of Health and Welfare, Ashley Connolly, acknowledged that while many members had begun to receive the agreed increases, there were some organisations experiencing delays with the additional funding required to deliver the pay increases.

Ashley said intense discussions had taken place in January with the relevant funding departments, and subsequent correspondence had now issued to employers, confirming the availability of funds for drawdown.

Under the terms of the deal secured by unions last October, workers in the sector are due the following payments:

• An Increase of 3% from 1st April 2023 (backdated)
• An Increase of 2% from 1st November 2023
• An Increase of 3% from 1st March 2024

Ashley added: “We understand the frustrations some members are experiencing and recognise these delays are unacceptable.”

She said unions representing workers in the sector are actively working with funding departments nationally to prevent further delays and ensure the timely release of the required funding.

She added: “Once the initial 5% payment is paid, we will continue to monitor progress to ensure a smoother process for the 3% payment due in March 2024.”

The new public service pay deal is shortly to be balloted on by 19 public service unions.

Once ratified, Ashley said that, in line with the terms of the October 2023 WRC agreement, unions will seek early engagement with the relevant government departments to have the terms of the new public service pay deal applied to workers in the sector.

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

Fórsa will be hosting a series of regional seminars to support and advise our Social Care Work members on CORU regulation and registration processes. These will take place across the country from 21st February 2024 to 11th September 2024.

On 30^th November 2023, new legislation came into effect which will require all Social Care Workers to register with CORU. This is in preparation for 30^th November 2025, when the title ‘Social Care Worker’ will become a legally protected title in Ireland.

Chris Cully, Fórsa Assistant General Secretary, said “We want to ensure that our members are well informed of any regulatory changes, and take them through the registration process so they can avoid any pitfalls and spend more time focussing on their work.”

These events will only be open to Fórsa members. Anyone interested in attending an information event can join Fórsa by clicking here.

For the dates and locations of the seminars please click here. Your colleagues who are not yet members of the union can join in advance of the seminars, share the page linked here with them.

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

Tusla have conceded a long standing Fórsa claim on behalf of members across eight health and social care professions (HSCP). The eight professions involve those working as Dietitians, in Orthoptics, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Social Work and Social Care Work.

Fórsa lodged a claim with Tusla seeking implementation of the recommendations contained in the Career Pathway Review interim report for health and social care professionals in 2022.  

If agreed these recommendations would see a pathway for career progression from basic to senior grade for our HSCP members employed in Tusla. Following Fórsa’s claim, Tusla sought permission from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) to implement the recommendations. 

At the end of 2023 permission was finally granted by DCEIDY. Fórsa is now entering the next phase of discussion with Tusla to agree an implementation plan. This will set out the process to make an application for career progression.  

The first engagement between Fórsa and Tusla to discuss implementation took place on Friday 26th January 2024. Fórsa Assistant General Secretary Chris Cully said: “This issue has been on the table for a long time now. It’s time to make progress so that our members can avail of career progression opportunities. We will have further updates for members in the next few weeks.”

Further updates will issue once an agreed implementation plan is available.

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

Fórsa is to commence a ballot on the new public sector pay deal later this month. If the deal is ratified, the new pay terms will affect most members of the union, as it will apply to workers employed directly by the State in public services and state agencies.

The union’s National Executive Committee (NEC), made up of elected members of Fórsa from the union’s various sectoral divisions, met last week and unanimously recommended acceptance of the terms of the deal in the forthcoming ballot.

The union is now making arrangements for a series of member information meetings in advance of the ballot, which is set to commence on 19^th February.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said union members ultimately decide whether to back the new agreement through the national ballot: “Fórsa is a member-led organisation and, in all matters of policy, it is the members who have the last word.

“The union’s executive backed the terms of the deal, and its recommendation is based on the understanding that the pay terms represent the absolute maximum achievable through negotiations at this time, and that it is the outcome of a challenging negotiations process,” he said.

The previous public service pay agreement, Building Momentum, expired on 31^st December 2023. The proposed new deal covers the period from 1st January 2024 to 30th June 2026.

The 19 unions affiliated to the Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), have until Monday 25^th March to complete ballots of their members. If the deal is ratified by an aggregate ballot of the PSC it would provide 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 of 1% on 1^st September 20225

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 pay proposals are estimated to be worth up to 17.3% for lower paid workers. This is because the flat-rate elements of the pay deal are worth more to public servants earning below €50k per annum. The benefit is greater for incomes below this level of salary.

If the proposed agreement is accepted, unions will not be able to lodge any ‘cost-increasing’ claims for improvements in pay or conditions during the lifetime of the agreement. However, there are specific provisions for local bargaining, which would allow trade unions to negotiate up to an additional 3% of pay costs, inclusive of allowances, for particular grades, groups or categories of employee.

For more information about the new agreement please visit our dedicated ballot hub.

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

Fórsa will be participating in a national demonstration calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, next Saturday 17^th February, which is set to be a Global Day of Action. The demonstration, organised by the Irish Palestine Solidarity Committee, will take place in Dublin, assembling at the Garden of Remembrance at 1pm.

Despite talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement in recent days the hostilities have continued. Over 27,000 thousand people have now been killed with many thousands more missing or injured.

Fórsa will be participating in the march and will be assembling outside the Hugh Lane Gallery from 1pm to distribute flags and banners for the march. If you would like to assist in this work please get in touch with the campaigns unit by emailing campaigns@forsa.ie.

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

With AGM season ratcheting up a gear and with the looming deadline for National Conference motions, the Skills Academy would like to remind you of its Lunch and Learn recording from January 2023 which provides a useful overview of how to craft motions and navigate the submissi­­­on process. It is available here.

“An important instrument in the toolkit of union democracy is the accurate use of motions which can be both progressive and significant in outcome,” commented Fiona Dunne, Director of Membership Training and Development. 

“The first step in the motion process is to decide what needs to be achieved, who can help deliver it and what might be the likely impact if this change is implemented. The session has been shared online, so take some time to watch it.” she continued.

The Lunch and Learn series are an ongoing webinar programme hosted by the Fórsa Skills Academy which aims to give members the knowledge to support them as a union member or representative. It’s a supplement to the broader range of training programmes offered by the union.  

“A playlist of previous virtual sessions can be accessed on YouTube. As well as tackling the minutia of union democracy, other topics have included improving your CV and nailing job interviews, public speaking, menopause health and digital trade unionism,” said Fiona.

As always if you have any specific training requirements for you, your colleagues, workplace, or branch, please don’t hesitate to contact the union at skillsacademy@forsa.ie. Check out the Skills Academy channel here.

UPCOMING TRAINING FROM FÓRSA SKILLS ACADEMY

February 

You still have time to register NOW for Foundational Workplace Representatives Training in Sligo – three consecutive days – Tuesday 27^th – Thursday 29^th February.  This is aimed at new Workplace Representatives! 

The next Lunch and Learn Session on Friday, 23^rd February will be on the topic of Job Evaluation schemes. You can register here. 

March

Expanded Workplace Reps Training – Wednesday 6^th – Thursday 7^th March – Cork.

The link to register for Fórsa 101 on Wednesday 13^th March, will be sent out next week to Training Officers/Secretaries and Chairs to circulate. This is an online information session for all new members.

Foundational Workplace Reps Training – Tuesday 26^th – Thursday 28^th March – South East (Wexford)

Branch Chairs and Secretaries Training – Tuesday 26^th March – Dublin

Branch Treasurers Training – Thursday 28^th March – Dublin

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

The Fórsa Gaeltacht grant winners for 2024 have been announced. The Fórsa Gaeltacht grants scheme is aimed at promoting the use and comprehension of Irish by providing financial assistance to children of Fórsa members who wish to study Irish during the summer.

Grants of €150 each will be made available to 80 winners for attending residential Irish language courses this summer. A further 40 grants of €70 will be made to assist children to attend day-only Irish courses held outside Gaeltacht areas.

The list of all 120 winners can be found HERE.

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

Ahead of the ballot on the new Public Sector Pay Agreement 2024-2026 information meetings are now underway. You can find a list of upcoming information meetings here. In addition to workplace meetings, online sessions are also taking place. 

Fórsa's Communications Unit has prepared a number of resources for union members and activists. The aim of these resources is to help you inform yourself about the agreement before you cast your vote.

You can access a detailed FAQ here. 

There is a poster you can download, distribute or display in your workplace here, and a more detailed flyer for the same purpose is available here. These are A4 formats so you can easily print them on workplace printers. 

We have also produced a 'Plain English' Guide to the Agreement, which you can download here. For more information on Plain English visit the website of the National Adult Literacy Service www.nala.ie.

Voting in the Fórsa ballot will begin on Monday 19th February and will close at 12pm on Friday 15th March. All Fórsa members working in the civil and public service, and non-commercial state agencies can vote. To vote in this online ballot you will receive an email with a unique voter code and a link to our secure voting platform. It can only be used once.

Now, it's up to you – vote yes if you want the proposed pay increases or vote no if you believe we should go back to the drawing board.

All of the resources are also available here: https://www.forsa.ie/resources-public-sector-pay-ballot/