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Covid-19 worker reps selected
by Hazel Gavigan
 

Lead worker representatives, drawn from the group of unions representing staff in city and county councils, were agreed for each of the 31 local authorities at a meeting yesterday (Thursday) between Fórsa and the local government employers’ national representative body.


Lead worker representatives, drawn from the group of unions representing staff in city and county councils, were agreed for each of the 31 local authorities at a meeting yesterday (Thursday) between Fórsa and the local government employers’ national representative body.

 

The ‘return to work safety protocol,’ agreed between unions, employers and the Government, requires all employments to have at least one lead worker representative, who will work with management to ensure the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and monitor adherence to the measures.

 

The local authority national council ratified the selection process last Monday (8th June) whereby each union appointed a worker representative in all local authorities. They then chose one person as the lead worker representative to work on behalf of the members of all unions.

 

Other responsibilities include promoting good hygiene practices; assisting with the implementation of measures to suppress the virus in the workplace; monitoring adherence to safety measures; consult with colleagues; and attend the relevant health and safety committee meetings.

 

At yesterday’s meeting Fórsa also sought the establishment of local meetings to consider the implications of phase changes to the Government’s roadmap for returning to work safely. Head of Fórsa’s Local Government and Municipal divisions Peter Nolan said the proposal was received positively:

 

“We are increasingly concerned at employers’ capacity to respond to the government’s request to continue to provide for remote working and must take a collaborative approach to ensure the safety of staff and service users alike.”

 

Read Fórsa’s advice on returning to your workplace 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.

Local government needs funding boost
by Hazel Gavigan
 

Fórsa has said the Government must seriously consider increased local government funding as county councils around the country face budget deficits worth millions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.


Fórsa has said the Government must seriously consider increased local government funding as county councils around the country face budget deficits worth millions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Local authorities are set to lose a substantial portion of their annual rates income because many businesses will struggle to get back on their feet after closures, while others won’t be able to reopen at all.

 

There is also significant revenue loss in some areas due to reduced income from parking charges and fines, while many municipal district councils have already decided to axe parking charges for three months in an effort to attract shoppers back into towns and cities.

 

Head of both Fórsa’s local government and municipal divisions, Peter Nolan said the Government needs to invest heavily in this area if services are to be maintained: “Ireland already has the most under-funded local government sector in Europe and the current crisis has only served to exacerbate this.

 

"In order to continue providing these vital services municipal districts need urgent state aid, in step with the aid provided to the commercial sector, so that our towns and cities can recover from this crisis,” he said.

 

The chief executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey described its financial situation as “stark”. He recently warned councillors not to underestimate the challenges they face, as the crisis could impact the council's income for the “next four to five years".

 

Peter commented: “Decisions have already been made in some areas to halt council housing maintenance programmes, except for emergency repairs. While local authorities may also be forced to reduce funding for roads in some regions.

 

“As it stands, the financial situation is only set to get worse so we need serious intervention sooner rather than later. Without national funding, councils will encounter a serious deficit that will affect 2021 budgets and quite possibly beyond next year.

 

"Unlike many other public services there is an explicit legal requirement on local authorities to balance their books. We mustn’t underestimate the value of strong local authorities and the services they provide,” he said.

 

Read Fórsa’s advice on returning to your workplace 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.

Vets to ballot in transfer row
by Bernard Harbor
 

Local authority vets are to ballot for possible industrial action over a proposal to transfer them from local authority employment to the Food Safety Authority Ireland (FSAI).


Local authority vets are to ballot for possible industrial action over a proposal to transfer them from local authority employment to the Food Safety Authority Ireland (FSAI).

 

Last week, Fórsa welcomed a three-month extension of negotiations on the issue, but said council-employed vets had become the “meat in the sandwich” in a dispute between the FSAI and the County and City Management Association (CCMA), which has threatened to transfer them to the FSAI.

 

The two public bodies can’t agree the renewal of a ‘service-level agreement,’ which covers the cost of inspections of small abattoirs including craft butchers and artisan food producers.

 

The agreement was due for renewal at the end of this month, but the FSAI agreed to extend the deadline.

 

The union says the FSAI has also threatened to outsource the work to another, unnamed, agency. This would result in taxpayers paying twice for the same service.

 

Fórsa’s Local Government Divisional Executive approved an industrial action ballot, and said it would ballot all its members in local authorities if a fair solution was not reached.

 

Under a service level agreement between the CCMA and the FSAI, local authority vets provide food safety controls, including inspection of all animals before and after slaughter, at around 600 food businesses that supply meats to retailers and establishments including nursing homes, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and canteens.

 

They also support small-scale and artisan businesses, which contribute to local economies and underpin employment in farming and the agri-food sector. As well as regulating the sector, the vet service supports mentoring, support and training in the sector.

 

Fόrsa’s head of local government, Peter Nolan, criticised the way the 30-plus vets found out about the proposal, and the absence of any consultation with them or their union. He has called for an immediate withdrawal of the proposal and said any dispute over the move would involve all local authority staff if necessary.

 

“It’s grossly unfair that our members have become the meat in the sandwich in a dispute between two public bodies at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. In an apparent negotiating tactic, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland is proposing to withdraw the local authority vets from the supervision of businesses crucial to food safety and rural economies, without having any discernible alternative in place,” he said.

 

The union has also called on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to intervene in the dispute.

 

 

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.

Safety first call over return to work
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa and other unions have insisted that workers’ safety cannot be compromised as thousands of people return to workplaces under the Government’s ‘roadmap for reopening society and business’.


Fórsa and other unions have insisted that workers’ safety cannot be compromised as thousands of people return to workplaces under the Government’s ‘roadmap for reopening society and business’.


Last week, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) echoed Fórsa’s warning that employers must abide by the national protocol agreed between government, unions and employers, which outlines the steps required to ensure a safe workplace as restrictions are relaxed.


The second phase of the easing of coronavirus restrictions got underway on Monday of this week (8th June). This triggered a phased return to workplaces for many staff who can “constantly” maintain two metres of social distancing.


However, the Government’s ‘roadmap’ says remote working should be maintained “for all workers and businesses that can do so.”


ICTU general secretary Patricia King said: “It is crucial that we ensure the re-opening of the economy is done in a safe manner and in line with public health guidance. We cannot cut corners and compromise on workplace safety.”

 

Meanwhile, in a written submission to an Oireachtas special committee on Covid-19, Fórsa acknowledged the emerging tensions between public health requirements and the desire for a rapid return to commerce, trade and work.


But it said that, “if unsupported by public health expertise,” a bias towards the latter would be self-defeating in terms of jobs and business.


“The consistent implementation of the ‘return to work safety protocol,’ agreed between the Government, unions, and employer representatives through the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF), must underpin the safe return to work, and ongoing workplace safety, in all sectors,” it said.


The union also warned that continued restrictions on childcare provision and public transport capacity, which remain in place during the current three-week ‘roadmap’ phase, could hamper the return to workplaces for many.


See also ‘Staff confidence in safety steps required’. 


Read Fórsa’s advice on a safe return to workplaces 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.

Employers must support remote workers
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa has urged employers to ensure that line managers give proper support to staff who have to work remotely because of public health concerns.


Fórsa has urged employers to ensure that line managers give proper support to staff who have to work remotely because of public health concerns.

 

Even as the Government accelerated its ‘back to work’ programme earlier this week, official advice still says people should be working from home whenever possible.

 

Three months into the lockdown, this has put immense strains on thousands of workers, with a recent Fórsa survey revealing that that 80% of Fórsa members had felt anxious or nervous as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

 

In a recent guidance note, Fórsa insisted that employers were obliged to maintain regular and meaningful contact with staff working away from the workplace.

 

“Remote working shouldn’t become too remote. It’s important to have good communications with your line manager in order to maintain clarity about what’s expected of you, get feedback about your work, and discuss any difficulties or queries that arise,” it said

 

It’s also important that staff get updates on work-related issues that they’d normally expect to get in the workplace.

 

The Fórsa advice, Working at home: Staying safe, connected, healthy and productive, says employers should:

 

· Arrange regular contacts with their staff (these should include phone or video calls – not just emails)

· Give clear instructions and feedback on work

· Give regular updates on what’s happening and planned in the organisation, including plans for ongoing remote working or returning to work

· Advise their staff to make immediate contact if they have an accident at work or if work equipment is faulty or needs maintenance, and

· Have emergency contacts and procedures in place.

 

In a submission to the Oireachtas Special Committee on the Covid-19 response, last week, the union also said employers must start planning – and seeking agreement – if they wanted to maintain some or all of their remote working arrangements.

 

“Employers now have a responsibility to engage with staff representatives to foster an agreed approach to the organisation of working time and location that can accommodate the various circumstances and concerns of their staff,” it said.

 

The union also said that a national public policy response could be needed. “There may emerge a need for stronger statutory and regulatory safeguards, as the expansion of remote working could otherwise be accompanied by an increase in the insecurity and exploitation associated with the ‘gig’ economy,” it argued.

 

More than a third of workers in Ireland were working remotely at the peak of the public health crisis. The Government’s ‘roadmap for reopening society and business’ is clear that many workers will continue to work remotely for some time.

 

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.

Fórsa seeks more resources for HSA
by Niall Shanahan
 

Fórsa has asked the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to develop a business case to determine the number of additional directly-employed inspectors it will need to ensure compliance with the ‘return to work’ safely measures.


Fórsa has asked the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to develop a business case to determine the number of additional directly-employed inspectors it will need to ensure compliance with the ‘return to work’ safely measures agreed between unions, employers and the Government.

 

The Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee was told on Tuesday (9th June) that more than 500 inspectors have been assigned to the HSA to ensure compliance with the agreed protocol. But Fórsa says the HSA should be employing more of its own inspectors in light of the scale of the task ahead.

 

A survey of health and safety professionals, published last week by Industrial Relations News (IRN), found that 57% lack confidence in the Health and Safety Authority’s ability to oversee the protocol. IRN editor Brian Sheehan noted: “The high level of pessimism can be attributed to concern around the lack of adequate resources, both financial and human, available to the Authority.”

 

Fórsa official Ashley Connolly said the union shares these concerns: “Our expectation is that Covid-19-related work will use up considerable capacity beyond the phased easing of the restrictions that have been in place.

 

“While we anticipate greater capacity is needed, we have asked management to determine the medium-to-long term requirements now, rather than falling behind and being forced to make the case retrospectively.

 

“This has been further necessitated by the increased pace at which we’re now moving through the phases of easing the Covid-19 restrictions and getting people back to work,” she said.

 

Read Fórsa’s advice on returning to your workplace 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.

Private pay up most over five years
by Bernard Harbor
 

Increases in average weekly earnings in the public service continued to lag behind the private sector in the first quarter of 2020.


Increases in average weekly earnings in the public service continued to lag behind the private sector in the first quarter of 2020, although the impact of Covid-19 on private sector pay barely registered in the three months between January and end-March.

 

New figures published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) this week showed that earnings grew by 4% in the private sector between January and March, comparted to 3.3% in the public sector.

 

Public sector figures include semi-state organisations in this CSO survey.

 

The CSO also released stats on changes in weekly earnings in the five years between 2015 and 2020. These showed increases in all sectors, but they were lower than average in the sectors where civil and public servants are concentrated.

 

The average increase over the five years was 14.4%, which compares to 4% in public administration and defence, 8.2% in education and 14.2% in health.

 

The figures don’t capture the public service pay cuts that occurred between 2010 and 2013 or the pension levy, which was imposed in 2009.

 

The largest increases in earnings in the 2015-2020 period were in administration and support (almost 28%), information and communications (over 20%), accommodation and food (over 19%), and finance and real estate (18%).

 

The CSO cautioned that the coronavirus crisis had limited the ability of some employers to submit the usual data for the survey.

 

It also noted that Government measures put in place in response to Covid-19 were only in place for two weeks of the three months under review. There is little doubt that the impact of the pandemic on Irish earnings will be evident when figures on the second quarter (April-June) of 2020 are published.

 

 

 

 

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

Wellness Wednesdays on the way
by Roisin McKane
 

Wednesday week (28th June) will see the launch of a series of ‘wellness’ webinars for Fórsa members.


Wednesday week (28th June) will see the launch of a series of ‘wellness’ webinars for Fórsa members.

 

Produced in association with Cornmarket, the broadcasts aim to help and inform union members on some of the challenging issues that have arisen for working families during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Hosted by TV broadcaster Karen Foster and rugby pundit and psychotherapist Brent Pope, the series of five free broadcasts will feature renowned experts speaking – and taking questions – on a range of topics including parenting in a pandemic, resilience, minding your money, and more.

 

The programmes are informed by the results of a recent survey that Cornmarket conducted among Fórsa members.

 

Registration details and further information on the first session will be revealed in next week’s Fórsa members’ ebulletin. So keep your eyes peeled.

 

 

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.

 

Feature Article
Update your contact details
 

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Also in this issue
Covid-19: Guidance on returning to your workplace
 
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.

Joyful ode to workers
by Mehak Dugal
 

Music organisations around Ireland have invited every person in the nation to participate in a special performance of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy (Óid don Lúcháire), in a tribute to our essential workers.

 

The event takes place on European Music Day, Sunday 21st June, and everyone is encouraged to perform on their doorstep or in a public space while maintaining safe physical distancing.

 

The event will commence with Ireland’s finest musicians and singers performing the much-loved piece by Beethoven on the steps of the National Concert Hall at 6pm. This will be livestreamed and, at the conclusion of this special performance, the public is invited to perform their own tribute version to essential workers.

 

Catherine Ann Cullen, Poetry Ireland’s Poet in Residence, has written new lyrics to accompany Beethoven’s piece for this special tribute.

 

The invitation calls for people across all age groups to get involved and perform in whatever genre of music they prefer, whether it be classical, jazz, pop or hip-hop.

 

Fórsa members are also encouraged to take part in the event to thank and pay tribute to all essential workers, including the health staff, firefighters, social care workers and social protection staff working in higher risk areas for most part of the crisis.

 

You can also share your performance and watch others on social media using the hashtag #OdeToJoyIE. It is expected that over 600,000 musicians from all over the country will take part.

 

Be inspired

 

Check out this very special public performance of Ode to Joy, filmed last year in the Spanish city of Sabadell, HERE. More information on the event, along with the sheet music here and lyrics to help prepare for it can be found here.

 

 

Read Fórsa’s advice on returning to your workplace 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.

Covid-19: Guidance on returning to your workplace
 
Wage and income supports extended
by Bernard Harbor
 

The Government has extended the Covid-19 temporary wage subsidy scheme until the end of August. In an announcement last Friday (5th June), it also said the €350 weekly pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) would stay in place until 10th August.

 

But a lower PUP payment of €203 a week – the standard Jobseekers’ Benefit rate – is to be introduced for those who previously earned less than €200 a week. This will affect about a quarter of those currently receiving the payment.

 

Social protection minister Regina Doherty claimed that no one on the new lower PUP rate would receive less than they were previously paid by their employer.

 

The Government said it had decided to extend the wage subsidy scheme because many businesses would be impacted by public health restrictions for some months to come.

 

Over 520,900 employees have received at least one payment under the scheme, with over 59,000 employers now registered. The cumulative value of payments made to employers – and passed on to staff – under the scheme is now over €1.4 billion.

 

A massive 545,000 people are currently receiving the PUP, though this is down from over 600,000 at its peak. Almost €2 billion has been distributed under the scheme.

 

 

 

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.

Union guidance for remote working
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa has published new 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.

Survey winners named
by Hazel Gavigan
 

The five lucky winners of €50 One4All vouchers from the draw of participants in our recent survey of members are Joanne O’Grady, Mayo Health and Local Government branch; Karol Downey, Revenue Executive Grades branch; Eoin Kirwin, Business Enterprise and Innovation Executive Grades branch; Niamh Geary, Cork Revenue Clerical branch; and Mary Hickey, SNAs South Dublin South Leinster branch.

 

The survey was carried out by Cornmarket on behalf of Fórsa. Its results will help inform a new wellness programme currently being developed for Fórsa members and their families. The initiative is designed to help Fórsa members cope with the increased strain on mental health due to the Covid-19 crisis.

 

The survey found that 80% of Fórsa members had felt anxious or nervous as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Over 70% reported problems with sleeping, while more than half said either they or a family member had experienced depression or a related condition as a result of the pandemic.

 

The results reflect the stress of a period when thousands of Fórsa members have stepped-up to serve in high-risk frontline environments, with many more having to rapidly adjust to remote working.

 

A significant number have also grappled with reduced pay, lay-offs, and insecurity about their jobs.

 

When asked to name their top five concerns, half of respondents cited mental health and 45% mentioned physical health. Some 29% of us are concerned about our weight and appearance, while almost a quarter (24%) are worried about money. Some 23% expressed unease about parenting.

 

Other concerns included juggling childcare and home-schooling with remote working, redeployment concerns, and poor support from the workplace.

 

Both Fórsa and Cornmarket, the administrators of two union salary protection schemes, are grateful to all who participated in the 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.

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/