Fórsa has lodged a claim, seeking full access to blended work in the Department of Justice.

Until now, blended working has been available with the caveat that flexitime accrual would not be available to staff while they were working away from the office, an option that the Civil Service Arbitration Board made available to departments.

Fórsa official Seán Carabini said he was disappointed to see the Department of Justice initially opt to disallow their staff accrue flexi time when they were working from home.

“Now is the time to seek to persuade the Department to adopt a blended working policy that benefits everyone,” he said.

“The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform review of blended working flexi accrual has clearly shown that there is no downside to it whatsoever and gives staff more flexibility in maintaining their work life balance while also simultaneously maintaining productivity levels. It’s a win-win,” he added.

Seán stressed the importance of this issue for our members working in the Department of Justice.

“We need to see this one through. Our claim has been lodged and the Department is now considering it. We expect an answer back in Q3. In reality, however, there is only one answer that will be acceptable to our members, and we hope that this issue will be resolved successfully,” he said.

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

Fórsa has said ongoing staff shortages and retention issues for the Garda civilian staff it represents are causing significant delays in delivery of services.

The union said it was aware of several issues that were impacting the optimal delivery of service that each Garda Civilian is looking to achieve but is outside of their ability to influence. These are:

• Ongoing shortages of staff can cause significant delays for 999 calls to be answered initially which can cause frustration and panic to build for the caller
• There are issues about repeat nuisance callers who take up a huge amount of time and resources. Some of these nuisance callers can ring up to 1,800 times a day and ring continuously tying up 999 lines
• All calls from the Eastern Division are now put through the 999-system putting even more pressure on the existing call takers
• Call takers are expected to input alarm URNs during shift whilst answering calls which could result in call takers having to restart alarms over and over so they can input calls.

The union said it wanted to relay the dismay and disappointment felt by the Garda Civilian staff in the absence of recognition of the sterling and undervalued work that they do each and every day under extreme pressure while constantly under resourced and frequently undertrained.

Fórsa said the few cursory recognitions do not adequately represent the pressures that the union’s members are under daily through no fault of their own.

Fórsa assistant general secretary Jim Mitchell said the lack of engagement on the issue of staffing and the need to adequately resource the workers who operate in these areas, has led them to feel that the recognition for the work that they do has been lost.

“These are the people who feel the deficits in work practices the most as they are the ones who strive to achieve the highest standards but when they are hampered through no fault of their own they feel let down when their positive efforts aren’t recognised, and further, there is no intention by management or the Department to help improve the delivery of these services to protect our communities,” said Jim.

Jim said Fórsa has written to the Garda Commissioner and has been seeking engagement with the management on several occasions.

The union has said it is available to engage as soon as possible as it is conscious of the nature of the work and its impact on public and community safety overall if these critical issues aren’t addressed on time and in an appropriate manner.

Meanwhile, Fórsa has also raised serious concerns that were reflected across the board amongst the staff side representatives regarding the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill that reached its final stages, without any clarity having been received by the staff representatives as to the employment status of members and the impact of the Bill on workers.

Fórsa had met the then Minister for Justice, Mr. Simon Harris, during which the union was informed that there would be full engagement and that nothing could progress without engaging. However, some matters have served to undermine confidence and there are very real concerns among the union representatives that those terms and conditions that Garda staff currently enjoy could be signed away with little or no engagement.

Fórsa represents more than 3,000 Garda civilian staff employed by the Department of Justice who work in a wide variety of non-policing roles alongside Gardaí.

The union says its Garda civilian members have very deep concerns about provisions in the Bill that will empower the Garda Commissioner to recruit Garda staff directly into the police service rather than to the Civil Service, as is currently the case.

The union has sought urgent engagement but has said no meetings have yet taken place yet.

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

Fórsa General Secretary and former ICTU President Kevin Callinan has reiterated that workers and their families are the victims of inflation, not the cause.

Speaking at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions biennial conference in Kilkenny, the outgoing ICTU President spoke to over 600 delegates about excessive company profits and their impact on inflation.

“At a time of very healthy profits (for many companies) and buoyant public finances, the Government is presiding over a significant fall in living standards due to rampant inflation in energy and food costs. Let’s be clear, many authoritative sources – even from within the European Central Bank – have acknowledged that excessive profits are the key driver of soaring inflation rates not wages.

“When the current inflationary problems hit, we were told initially by the powers-that-be that the spike in inflation would be temporary. When it wasn’t, then it was due to supply chain pressures and the war in Ukraine. Of course, the old chestnut of workers’ incomes being the problem is now being rolled out and we’re being warned about the risk of a wage/price inflationary spiral when what we’re actually experiencing is greedflation. Let me be very clear, workers and their families are the victims of inflation – they are not the cause,” he said.

Kevin continued by saying that the trade union movement acknowledges that while inflation is an enemy, unions cannot allow the current situation to continue whereby workers are bearing a disproportionate share of the burden while many companies profiteer.

“Our movement has a responsibility to defend the living standards of ordinary people especially at a time when we are seeing a further shift in wealth from labour to capital after more than 40 years of drift in that direction. We have seen the movement in the north take action on this issue with so many disputes taking place as workers stand up to the Tories. As President of Congress, I am sending a clear message from this conference to Government and employers – north and south – that declining incomes in real terms will not be tolerated when the resources are clearly there to avoid it.”

Kevin concluded his speech on inflation by sending a clear message to Government and employers that declining incomes in real terms will not be tolerated when the resources are clearly there to avoid it.

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

Over five hundred people marched from Cork City library to Cork City Hall earlier this month, in a Fórsa organised solidarity protest in support of Cork City library workers.

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 and elsewhere have seen similar abuse.

Fórsa has been supporting members experiencing abuse and has led the charge, calling on local authorities to enact proactive measures to ensure workers are safe in their workplace. More recently the union has distributed a suite of resources to workers who may be experiencing harassment at the hands of protesters, and has written to local authorities on the matter.

Head of Local Government and Local Services said that libraries should be “sanctuaries of safety and inclusivity” and called on local authorities to protect workers.

“We need Councils to immediately undertake a health and safety risk assessment of all public libraries and the threat posed by harassment of protesters. Council management need to engage with An Garda Síochána immediately, to ensure emergency supports will be available to protect workers when such instances occur,” he said.

“Library workers need to be protected from this harassment, our members are afraid for their safety in their workplace and Councils needs explore legal avenues to exclude offenders from public libraries,” he added.

Richy said he was heartened by the show of solidarity. He commended public library workers, saying “they should be applauded - not abused”.

“We proudly represent hardworking library staff across Ireland. They do integral work, including creating inclusive communities. We support our dedicated members and won't accept any intimidation of our members in their workplaces!

“Libraries are community hubs for social integration, serving as centres of cultural, educational, and academic learning, and must be places free from harassment and intimidation for both staff and library users. This show of solidarity to our fellow members demonstrates to these groups that harassment and hate will not be tolerated. Workers united will never be defeated,” he said.

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

Fórsa’s Wicklow Health branch has helped to establish a brand-new tag rugby team in memory of union members who have sadly passed away.

The Arklow Red Kite rugby team is an all-inclusive team for people who require physical or mental supports.

The branch decided to support the brand-new team after the passing of Fórsa member, Fiona Grainger, who had always urged the branch to put their finances to good use by helping those in need.

Wicklow Health branch activist Ian Harte had been looking at setting up a rugby club for people with disabilities and approached his branch for help and support.

The team has been integrated into Arklow rugby club and it has brought a smile to the faces of people across the town. They were even asked to attend the Arklow Rugby dinner dance.

Fórsa activist Margaret Coughlan said that the branch had decided collectively to support the team to make a meaningful difference: “We wanted to do something special in memory for our members who have recently deceased. The branch decided to help a member who was looking to start this rugby team and we now have the Arklow Red Kite team.

“The team are amazing and it’s all about inclusivity, anybody at all is welcome to join in. I want to give a special mention to the incredible volunteers and coaches who put so much time and effort into this project.

“I was even invited down to participate in one of the matches and the experience was extremely worthwhile. We will continue to support the team with jerseys, tracksuits or whatever they need to into the future,” she said. 

You can find more photos of the Arklow Red Kite Rugby team on their Facebook Page.

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

The next instalment of the Fórsa Skills Academy ‘Lunch and Learn’ series will take place next Friday (28th July) from 1pm – 2pm, focusing on digital trade unionism.

Members interested in attending should register their interest here.

Fórsa’s Director of Digital Kate O’Sullivan will discuss what digital trade unionism means, and delve into what it means and how to do it. She will also explore artificial intelligence, looking to the future and what it holds.

The ‘Lunch and Learn’ series aims to give members the knowledge to support them as a union member or representative whilst supplementing the broad range of training programmes currently being offered by Skills Academy. Members can catch up on previous sessions here.

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

The eight-metre high wall traverses the West Bank countryside in Palestine serving as an unnatural reminder of Israeli apartheid. It is built in a way that isolates a significant amount of Palestinian land and people from the rest of the West Bank territory.

It's not the only stark picture of an apartheid regime. The roofs of Palestinian houses and buildings are topped with black or white water tanks because access to water is restricted. Neighbouring buildings without the water tanks almost certainly belong to illegal settlements where no such water shortage exists.

And the growth of these settlements is relentless. Jewish settlers seize land, establish a base and enjoy the protection of the occupying Israeli Defence Force having evicted the people who, in many cases, have lived there for centuries. In Palestinian East Jerusalem a similar process is underway but, in this case, it is done house by house.

The illegal settlements, effectively stealing land from Palestinians, is a flagrant breach of international law and the Oslo Accords. The fact that this can happen with impunity, and the failure of the government of Israel to prevent it, is an affront to the international community.

Seeing this with one's own eyes stays with you. At the end of June, in my capacity as President, I led the first ICTU high level delegation to Palestine since 2007. I was joined by Vice-President Phil Ní Sheaghdha (INMO), past President Patricia McKeown (UNISON) and Assistant General Secretary, Gerry Murphy.

Of course, there have been many trade union delegations in the meantime, often organised through Trade Union Friends of Palestine (TUFP). And we were pleased to make a small presentation in Bethlehem in memory of the northern secretary of TUFP, Eamonn McMahon, who passed away last year.

Our visit was brief. We travelled overnight there and back spending five busy days on the ground.

One day was spent visiting hospitals. In Bethlehem, this included the Caritas Baby hospital, the Beit Jala government hospital and the Holy Family Maternity hospital which has a strong connection with Irish midwives. In Jerusalem, we toured the Augusta Victoria hospital and met with the representatives of the workers.

Our meeting with the Palestinian trade union federation (PFGTU) was switched from Ramallah from Nablus due to the current level of settler violence taking place there and in Jenin. And we were unable to access Gaza. This was disappointing.

Some of our most informative meetings, both in the West Bank and in Tel Aviv, were with NGOs. We received a good analysis of what was happening including the weakening authority of the traditional leadership in the West Bank. When we met with the deputy foreign Minister Dr. Amal Jadou, who had visited Ireland recently, we were most impressed with her passion and commitment.

We had an informative session with the International Labour Organisation representative and separate meetings with the Irish team in the Representative Office in Ramallah and with the Irish Ambassador to Israel.

It would be easy to despair about the situation. Hope is in short supply. But then you think of the children in the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem who live under the gaze of the watchtowers on top of the separation wall that borders the camp itself and the tremendous work of the Lajee Centre there. Or you reflect on the special bond that exists between Ireland and Palestine and what it means.

 "We see our flag at football matches," a local said to me and I knew it meant a lot.

And you know as a country, we can and should do more. Recognising the State of Palestine would be a good start.

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

Fórsa members can avail of tickets for the upcoming Irish Labour History Society Conference in September. But numbers are limited and on a first come first serve basis.

The Irish Labour History Society will be holding a major four day ‘Visions of Labour and Class in Ireland and Europe’ Conference taking place across a number of venues from 14th to 17th September 2023.

The Irish Labour History Society (ILHS) was established in 1973, with a founding objective, as outlined in our constitution, to; ‘promote the knowledge of Irish labour and of Irish people in labour history abroad and labour history in general; the appreciation of the importance of labour history in the educational curriculum; and the preservation of all records and reminiscences, oral and written, relating to the current and past experiences of the Irish working class and its organisations’.

The Society is today a registered charity, with a premises in Beggars Bush, Dublin that includes an extensive collection of Irish labour history records. The collections are open to researchers Monday-Friday, by prior appointment.

The Society also regularly publishes other items of relevance to the history of Irish workers, their leaders and organisations.

The conference is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Decade of Centenaries 2012-23 initiative.

The full programme for the conference is available to view here.

If you wish to attend an event on the programme you must request to be nominated to attend for the event. All you have to do is e-mail us at ilhsconference@forsa.ie.

Your request will be sent to the ILHS and a confirmation will be sent to you so you can turn up and enjoy the event. Your request must match an event on the programme.

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

People who have periods or are going through menopause make up more than half of the population. Yet workplaces are not always set up to deal with the reality of what they go through, and it’s not often something that is openly talked about either!

But with some reasonable adjustments, all employees will be able to do their work to the best of their ability. With the #StopTheStigma campaign, we hope to get everyone talking as well and remove the taboo that continues to surround periods and menopause.

Fórsa’s menstrual and menopause policies campaign is about getting the best working conditions for our members, and about raising awareness in the wider community.

Check out this Resources Section for more information about what menstrual and menopause policies can include, a flyer for your workplace, a policy template, and for some handy tips as well.

We’re partnering with other trade unions, like the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Financial Services Union, SIPTU, UNITE, Irish National Teacher’s Organisation, and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, to #StoptheStigma and build an awareness campaign around menstrual and menopause policies.

This campaign includes surveys of our membership as well as the wider public on people’s experiences of periods and menopause in the workplaces. You can take our survey here! It takes just a few minutes, and it will make sure this campaign is about people’s real experiences.

We’re running awareness raising ads and media, and sending information to the 80,000+ membership of Fórsa on menstrual and menopause policies and campaigns. We’re getting the word out in every way we can.

Fórsa is also providing educational materials to workplaces and employers on what menstrual and menopausal workplace friendly policies are, and how to improve working life for more than half the population in Ireland. You can find a flyer and a blank policy template for your workplace here. 

We’re also directly advocating with your employers to bring in period and menopause friendly policies. This is through our industrial relations mechanisms, across the different sectors we represent: Education, Civil Service, Health and Welfare, Local Government and Local Services, Municipal and Services and Enterprises.

Fórsa had previously surveyed its members and found a shocking 70% of respondents had to take time off work as a direct result of their periods. In response to this, we have launched the #StopTheStigma campaign to begin conversations in workplaces about periods, menopause, and why they should no longer be taboo topics.

Other trade unions are finding the same results we did from surveying their members. Here is more of what our members had to say previously:

• 1 in 4 people had been diagnosed with a specific condition such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder and so many others. These can result in severe medical symptoms during menstruation, like heavy bleeding, crippling migraines, sudden hot flushes and extreme nausea. And these are just an extremely small number in a long list of symptoms.
• Almost 7 in 10 people were not comfortable talking about their period pains or menopausal symptoms with their manager
• Only 1% of workplaces currently have a menstrual welfare policy in place

As part of the #StoptheStigma campaign, the coalition is working to distribute the awareness materials within their memberships to educate workplaces on menstrual and menopausal symptoms.

Here are some periods and menopause workplace resources, so you and your employer can create policies and put in place supports:

• Download a free menstrual and menopausal policy template here for your organisation.
• Print and circulate this downloadable flyer to help spread awareness. You could leave it in the work kitchen or canteen, or bring it to your manager directly.

Further, here are some tips on speaking to managers and employers about the issue, using our periods and menopause workplace resources:

• Ask for a meeting about the policies, and send them the flyer and the template beforehand so they have some information to begin with
• Show them the Fórsa survey results to explain why it’s so important
• Let them know that with some reasonable adjustments, people will be less likely to need to use sick leave, will be more productive, and will know their workplace is an inclusive one that values their employee

You can also show your support for the campaign on Twitter! Take just 10 seconds to click here to tweet out a ready-made post.

As members of Fórsa, your workplace representative can talk to your employer for you. 

Visit our webpage here and find out more about the union’s work in the area.

Until we get talking about period and menopause welfare policies, nothing will change.

For more details on the survey and Fórsa's research contact Juliette Cooper at jcooper@forsa.ie

For more information on resources available and the campaign please contact Mehak Dugal at mdugal@forsa.ie

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

The Low Pay Commission has recommended an increase to the minimum wage to bring it up to €12.70.

In a submission to the Low Pay Commission previously the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) had called for an increase in the national minimum wage by €2, bringing it up to an hourly rate of €13.30.

ICTU general secretary Owen Reidy welcomed the recent recommendation, although he said it was 'not as much' as they would have liked.

"A 12% increase is not as much as we would have liked but it is going in the right direction and it does address some of the poorer increases, we have seen in previous years which in some cases were lower than inflation," said Mr Reidy.

Mr. Reidy also said minimum wage workers were disproportionately impacted by the cost-of-living crisis and were “hit the hardest”.

In 2022, the Government announced its plans to introduce a national living wage and phase out the minimum wage over the next few years. The recommended increase would have to approved by the Cabinet in the autumn.

The Irish Times estimates around 165,000 people will directly benefit from the increase, most of them women, people with disabilities and young and migrant workers.

In its submission to the low pay commission, ICTU highlighted the EU Adequate Minimum Wage Directive which states that minimum wages are to be considered adequate if they are fair in relation to the wage distribution in the relevant member state and if they provide a decent standard of living for workers based on a full-time employment relationship.

The Directive acknowledges that women, younger workers, migrant workers, single parents, low-skilled workers, persons with disabilities, and in particular persons who suffer from multiple forms of discrimination, still have a higher probability of being minimum wage or low wage earners than other groups.

Therefore, the directive requires that the setting of minimum wages be guided by criteria set to contribute to their adequacy, with the aim of achieving a decent standard of living, reducing in-work poverty, as well as promoting social cohesion and upward social convergence, and reducing the gender pay gap.

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

The International Labour Organization (ILO) released a report in 2022 focusing on the issue of workplace safety and health, specifically regarding biological hazards. The report emphasises the growing significance of addressing these hazards in various industries and the urgent need for comprehensive measures to protect workers across the globe.

To provide input on this critical issue, PSI (Public Services International) is encouraging all affiliated unions to respond to a survey, particularly those representing members in the health and care services. The survey aims to gather information to inform discussions at the 112th and 113th International Labour Conferences in 2024 and 2025, which will focus on establishing a new standard or instrument on biohazards to promote safer and healthier working environments globally.

By completing this survey, Fórsa members can share their valuable insights and voice their opinions and experiences regarding the risk of occupational exposure to biological hazards, and the measures in place to prevent it.

The survey results will be used to identify where improvements can be made in raising awareness and applying measures to protect healthcare workers.

The survey can be completed by following this link and returning it to this email and copy the PSI at biohazardssurvey@world-psi.org.

The survey closes on the 31st of July 2023.

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

Disadvantaged areas in Ireland experienced significant disruptions in employment when compared to other areas during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a recent study by the ESRI.

The research focused on the economic impacts of the pandemic on individuals residing in disadvantaged areas, as determined by the Pobal Haase Pratschke Deprivation Index, which is widely used to identify and target resources for communities facing disadvantage.

The report titled "Pandemic Unemployment and Social Disadvantage in Ireland" was carried out in collaboration with Pobal and examined the economic consequences of the pandemic, particularly the impact of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and its relation to deprivation across different areas.

While PUP rates were higher in deprived areas during lockdowns, they also declined more rapidly when restrictions were eased. The report suggests that this decline may be attributed to individuals in deprived areas having fewer options to return to work once restrictions were lifted.

Moreover, the high concentration of people in deprived areas working in sectors heavily impacted by lockdowns, such as retail, accommodation, and food, may have contributed to the rapid decline in unemployment.

Author of the report, Dr Adele Whelan of the ESRI, said that the findings highlight economic inequalities in the impact of the pandemic: "The higher PUP rates in more deprived areas give emphasis to the vulnerability of individuals in these areas to labour market disruptions resulting from public health restrictions.

"This is an important consideration for policymakers if future events necessitate lockdown policies," Dr Whelan said.

The researchers also noted that individuals in deprived areas were more likely to work in low-paid jobs that were vulnerable to pandemic-related restrictions and offered limited opportunities for remote work. These findings underscore the need to address the specific challenges faced by disadvantaged areas and develop targeted support measures to ensure their economic recovery and resilience in the future.

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