Fórsa has served notice of industrial action in local authorities, due to begin on Monday 11th September.

Following the abject failure of the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) to engage meaningfully with the union on the establishment of a job evaluation scheme for workers in local authorities, 85% of Fórsa members voted in favour of industrial action. Notice of the industrial action was served to local authority employers last Friday 1st September.

The industrial action will consist of an indefinite ban on non-statutory political representations from TDs, senators and councillors from that date. This means that local government workers will not respond to routine queries and requests for information from politicians. Fórsa said it will announce further action - up to and including strike action - in due course.

We have prepared a Frequently Asked Questions document for members to answer any questions you might have on the industrial action.

Fórsa has also written to local councillors, TDs, senators and MEPs about the fresh industrial action due to commence in local authorities next week.

The union said the industrial action had essentially been forced by the LGMA’s “strident” position in resisting the union’s claim for a job evaluation scheme. Job evaluation assesses if a job’s grade is properly matched to its duties and responsibilities.

Fórsa national secretary Richy Carrothers said: “Management representatives utterly failed to engage meaningfully in resolving this dispute, despite its commitment to do so in a joint referral to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

“There was no meaningful or constructive engagement from the employer side at conciliation hearings in July. Consequently, negotiations broke down. The LGMA has failed the process, and local authority workers, and has betrayed the good faith of the joint referral to the WRC.

“However, there is absolute determination among Fórsa’s membership to secure an appropriate job evaluation scheme in local government, and the action due to commence next week will illustrate that determination.

“Any attempts to circumvent or undermine the industrial action, or any attempts to intimidate or threaten Fórsa members engaging in this legitimate action, will likely lead to an immediate escalation of the dispute,” he said.

Fórsa represents more than 12,000 local government and services workers including clerical, administrative, management, technical and professional staff. You can also show your support by asking your colleagues who aren’t members to join the union.

Download and distribute this poster to help grow Forsa’s membership in local authorities.

Fórsa has written to the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris seeking an urgent meeting regarding the ongoing harassment of library workers by far-right agitators.

Over the last number of months Fórsa members in Cork have been subjected to protesters entering libraries, harassing library workers, and attempting to remove books they deem to be “inappropriate”. More recently, libraries in Tralee, Drogheda, Limerick and elsewhere have seen similar abuse.

The union has repeatedly sought for local authorities to protect their employees, and in July wrote to all City and County Council managements calling for protective measures to be enacted to guard library workers from abuse and harassment in their workplace.

Head of Local Government and Local Services Richy Carrothers said some City and Council managements have engaged with Fórsa on this matter, with a number responding to the union’s demands.

“There are clear legal and vicarious responsibilities on employers as outlined in Health and Safety at Work legislation and the local authority employers are aware of this. Libraries should be sanctuaries of safety and inclusivity, not hives of abuse. The “Code of Practice for Employers and Employees on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work” deals specifically with bullying and includes bullying in the workplace by clients and customers. This issue isn’t going to go away by ignoring it,” he said.

Fórsa has continued to meet with hundreds of library workers over the summer, who are experiencing this abuse first hand.

“Our members are afraid for their safety in their workplace. They are describing the abuse they are experiencing in their workplace, of which, local authorities are aware of. We proudly represent hardworking library staff across Ireland who do integral work, including creating inclusive communities. We support and our members and they feel supported by their union. We won’t accept harassment of our members, but they need to see action by their employer,” said Richy.

Fórsa will continue to meet with library workers over the coming weeks, and information packs, posters and badges have been disseminated to libraries across the country.

“Libraries must be places free from harassment and intimidation for both staff and library users. The solidarity shown to our fellow members demonstrates to these groups that harassment will not be tolerated. Workers united will never be defeated,” said Richy.

Fórsa has confirmed that there will be a new local authority process for local authority water services staff who wish to remain as local authority workers that will see staff reassigned to other roles in the sector.

The phased transfer of water services to Uisce Éireann began over the summer and will remain ongoing until 2026, when local authorities will cease to be involved in the public water system.

The mechanism sets out the proposed methodology for re-assigning local authority water services staff who wish to remain as local authority employees to suitable vacancies within grade and competence to other local authority services, and will commence immediately.

The document commits each local authority to facilitating workers to the maximum extent possible and will be subject to an agreed knowledge transfer period where necessary, in accordance with the internal mobility policy of each local authority.

Head of Local Government Richy Carrothers welcomed the framework and said that Fórsa’s priority continues to be the protection of workers in the local authority water services throughout this process.

“Members will be aware from the updates provided that we have repeatedly raised concerns over aspects of the final master agreement. We remain committed to the framework to protect our members and Fórsa has been working hard to progress and ensure these protections,” he said.

Local authority water service workers can apply for reassignment by completing this form and submitting it to the relevant HR personnel.

The Fórsa Youth Network will be hosting an event on the housing crisis “Locked Out: The Working Homeless”, at 6.30pm on Friday, September 29th in Nerney's Court.

A panel of industry experts will discuss the challenges facing young workers who cannot find anywhere to live, explore the impact of the housing crisis on workers, and discuss the action that can be taken by the Trade Union movement. 

This event is hosted by Fórsa's Youth Network however the event is open to members of all ages. 

Register here to attend this event.

As Summer turns to Autumn many of us turn our minds to learning.

Our Skills Academy offers training for members, workplace representatives, and branch activists throughout the year, for more information on upcoming courses check out our calendar for the year ahead here.

However if you don’t have the time to sign up to a specific course at the moment, did you know that all our Lunch & Learn trainings are available on the Fórsa Skills Academy YouTube channel?

These hour-long sessions provide insights and overviews of a range of different topics so if you’re looking to learn how to draft a motion, brush up on your public speaking skills, or for insights into how to speak about your union, and build membership you can watch back all the sessions in your own time here. 

Dear member, 

This time of year often brings with it a sense of renewed opportunity and plans for the months ahead, as schools reopen and holidays come to an end. Here at Fórsa we have a busy schedule of events open to all members, from trainings to seminars, between now and the end of year, which I hope that you will enjoy. 

A core focus of our work this Autumn will be negotiating a new national pay agreement for public sector workers. The extension of the Building Momentum agreement expires at the end of 2023, with the final pay instalment due on 1st October. 

While the review of the agreement in 2022 brought much needed pay increases, inflation continues to erode the pay of all workers, and the cost of everyday living is a constant challenge. Earlier this year, 99% of respondents to our members’ survey told us that negotiated pay rises must match inflation, and for many this was an issue on which they would be prepared to take industrial action. This message from you is a mandate for Fórsa.

While global events create some uncertainty, the Government is managing record budgetary surpluses. This provides a unique – if challenging - negotiating context for a successor to Building Momentum.  It is imperative now that a date for the beginning of pay talks is set. 

While many Fórsa members will have benefitted from a break over the summer months, a lot of activity continues, and significant progress was made on several issues in the past week. 

Thanks to progress made at the WRC planned industrial action was suspended in the health sector, where the union had served notice of industrial action in disputes over a career pathway review for Health and Social Care professionals, and the recruitment pause on clerical admin and managerial grades in the HSE. Similarly, after several months of the employer refusing to negotiate with the union, Fórsa signed an industrial relations agreement last week with Emerald Airlines.

Disputes are also ongoing in relation to job evaluation in local authorities and Tusla, while Fórsa continues to work with other unions in attempts to resolve pay disparities for health workers in the community and voluntary sector, and those members are currently being balloted for industrial action. 

There have been notable wins in other areas, and I would like to particularly congratulate everyone involved in Fórsa’s School Secretaries campaign. This school year they finally have the recognition they deserve as they go back to school on the Department of Education payroll.

 
Our collective strength is in our members. This year our union membership has been growing across all divisions, and that growth empowers us when we negotiate on your behalf. To keep it going we need your help. 

The most effective thing you can do today to support your union is to ask your colleagues: ‘Have you joined the union yet?’. You can also download and print this poster to distribute or display in your workplace. 

Thank you for your continued support,

Kevin Callinan,

General Secretary,

Fórsa

Applications are now open for the 2024 Fórsa Gaeltacht grant scheme. 80 grants of €150 each are available to assist children of Fórsa members attending residential Irish language courses in Gaeltacht areas next summer. 

A further 40 grants of €70 are available to assist children to attend day-only Irish language courses held outside Gaeltacht areas. 

Children of Fórsa members, who are aged between 11 years and 18 years of age on 1st July 2024, are eligible to apply for the grant scheme. You can download the application form HERE.

Please note that in order to ensure as many children as possible can benefit from this scheme a child who received a scholarship in this scheme in 2023 is not eligible for receipt of the scholarship in 2024.  A list of winners in 2023 is available on the Fórsa website.

Only one application per child is permissible. Multiple applications for the same child will not be considered.  

Applications must be received on or before 5.00pm on Friday October 6^th, 2023.  The draw will take place shortly thereafter.  All queries should be sent to gaeltacht@forsa.ie.

Application forms can be submitted either by email to gaeltacht@forsa.ieor by post to Fórsa Head Office to the following address: General Services Committee, Gaeltacht Scheme, Fórsa, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1, D01 R2C5. Only one method of application per applicant is allowed.

A list of last year's winners is available on the Fórsa website. 

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

Have you ever wanted to join a friendly, active and non-competitive choir? Then the People’s College Choir could be for you!  

The mixed-voice choir of 45 members is now recruiting new members. You can find out more about the choir’s affiliations with Fórsa and other unions by clicking HERE.

The choir was founded in 1993 by then President of the People’s College, Dr Sheila Conroy, the first ever female member of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union Executive. The College itself was established in 1948 to promote worker and cultural education and the choir is part of that wider programme. Members are trade union and community activists from Dublin, and neighbouring counties. 

The choir sings an extensive range of songs in a non-competitive atmosphere; some old, some new, some folk, traditional Irish airs and modern popular songs as well as songs of social progress ‒ some of which have been performed at trade union organised events including in Áras an Uachtaráin.

The choir rehearse from 8.30 p.m. until 10 p.m. each Tuesday evening in Club na Múinteoirí (the ‘Teachers’ Club’, Parnell Square). The choral year runs from September until May of the following year. 

If you are interested in joining you can contact the musical director, Paul Walsh, at peoplescollegechoir@gmail.com

The 3rd Irish Labour History Society (ILHS) international event takes place from 14th to 17th September across a number of venues, including the Liberty Hall Theatre and Fórsa’s head office at Nerney’s Court.

The conference will feature panel discussions with academics, trade union representatives, activists and representatives of migrant workers. Fórsa general secretary, Kevin Callinan, will take part in a discussion on the issue of social dialogue with Danny McCoy of Ibec on Sunday, 17th September.

The conference kicks off on Thursday at 2:30pm at Liberty Hall with an introduction and welcome from Shay Cody, Chair of the ILHS. The programme includes panels and presentations on:

• Press for Labour Rights – Keeping it real in a world of AI
• Discursive studies reviewing Social Partnership; The Peace Process, Good Friday Agreement and Brexit
• Gender, Class & Labour History Since 1980
• Setting the scene, the Irish delegation to the ILO
• Irish Public Policy - ‘The Marriage Bar in the Civil Service 1893-1973

If you are interested in attending, please email ilhsconference@forsa.ie before the 12^th of September. The ILHS are partnered in this venture by ICTU, and with the Northern Ireland Committee of ICTU. You can find the full conference agenda HERE.