Fórsa addressed a meeting of the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response today (Wednesday) on a review of preparations for the reopening of schools, and how the reopening is operating in practice. The meeting was also attended by teacher union representatives.
Fórsa addressed a meeting of the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response on Wednesday on a review of preparations for the reopening of schools, and how the reopening is operating in practice. The meeting was also attended by teacher union representatives.
The union’s head of education Andy Pike said the re-opening of schools is of critical importance to the wellbeing of students, families and society as a whole, and identified five main areas for his report to the meeting. These were the position of staff with underlying health conditions, the availability and use of PPE, arrangements for attendance and testing, classroom supervision and the use of isolation rooms.
He said the efforts made by staff across the country to ensure our schools are ready to welcome back students is an example of the public service at its best and should be recognised accordingly.
Underlying health conditions
Andy said the position of staff returning to school with underlying health conditions continues to cause concern, and explained that special needs assistants (SNAs) and bus escorts are not able to practice social distancing due to the nature of their role.
He said staff with underlying health conditions classified as ‘high risk’, should they contract Covid-19, have in many cases been advised to attend work in circumstances whereby their treating physician or specialist advises against this: “Some progress has been made by way of securing a review of the initial occupational health assessment. However, we remain concerned that staff may still be directed to work side by side with students, contrary to HSE advice which states that those at ‘high risk’, should work remotely. If they do have to attend a workplace, they should practice strict social distancing, this is not possible for SNAs and bus escorts.”
PPE
Andy told the committee that staff are now reporting that a number of schools have either refused to purchase such equipment or are requiring staff to re-use face masks contrary to HSE advice, despite advice from the Department of Education and Skills that a range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is available and can be purchased: “We can state to the Committee that there are a significant number of staff today providing personal care to students without adequate PPE. The equipment in question is in plentiful supply and is inexpensive, a medical grade face mask which provides protection against Covid-19 costs less than 50 cents,” he said.
Testing
Fórsa supports the protocols for testing students and staff. Andy told the committee staff that the HSE is currently developing supports for schools for rapid testing: “Whilst we hope the incidents of Covid-19 transmission in our schools will be low, we believe there are advantages in conducting routine testing in our schools and universities. The introduction of regular testing within Schools would maintain confidence that a safe working environment for students and staff can be maintained and would provide a degree of certainty for the school community including parents,” he said.
Supervision
On classroom supervision, he said Fórsa is concerned that the Department’s guidance and local practice may allow for special education needs teachers to be deployed to supervise mainstream classes to cover absences: “Such practices reduce resources for students with additional care needs. Where this takes place, SNAs are then asked to supervise a class.
“This is not their role, they are not qualified to supervise classes and they receive no recognition where they have to undertake such duties on instruction from their principal. We would prefer to see a stronger policy from the department on this issue,” he said.
Isolation rooms
Andy said the use of isolation rooms for students exhibiting symptoms will without doubt be problematic. He said examples are now emerging of schools with no space for such facilities, and cited the example of a school where the isolation facility consisted of a perspex partition within the school secretary’s office.
He added: “Difficulties are also apparent in the supervision of students awaiting collection by parents, where SNAs are routinely asked to provide supervision taking them away from their allocated students. We suggest that these arrangements are reviewed to ensure that students with additional care needs are not denied access to their SNA.
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 has been advised by the Department of Education and Skills that it has changed the terms of the Medmark occupational health assessments as they apply to those staff classified as 'high risk' and 'very high risk'. Medmark is to conduct a review of their initial assessment by a different occupational health doctor upon request, and will now consider if staff with 'high risk' conditions should be advised against returning to work.
Fórsa has been advised by the Department of Education and Skills that it has changed the terms of the Medmark occupational health assessments as they apply to those staff classified as 'high risk' and 'very high risk'.
Medmark is to conduct a review of their initial assessment by a different occupational health doctor upon request, and will now consider if staff with 'high risk' conditions should be advised against returning to work.
The union last week highlighted the difficulties faced by many classroom based staff with underlying health conditions that could place them at a higher risk of serious illness should they contract Covid-19.
Fórsa Head of Education Andy Pike said "This represents a change in policy as the initial occupational health assessments were only to determine if an employee fell into the 'very high risk' category. Many staff with serious 'high risk' conditions were told to report to work, even where specialist consultant opinion advised against a return to work," he said.
Review process
In correspondence sent to Fórsa Monday (31st August), the department said the outcome of the risk categorisation is governed by the HSE guidance: "However, Medmark retains the discretion to place someone into the higher risk group if they feel they have more than one complaint and that their combination of risks warrants a higher categorisation. No individual is placed at a lower level of risk than that set out by the HSE standards.
"In terms of the employer, there is an obligation on them to go through the Covid response plan in the school and ensure that all appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place.
"Where an individual feels that they have been placed in an incorrect risk category a review process has been put in place by Medmark."
In order to request a review, Fórsa members affected are advised to contact Medmark and to request a review with “Risk Assessment Review” in the subject box of their email. Anyone seeking a review has the further option of adding additional medical evidence and should include their name and date of birth.
The department advised that the review will be undertaken by a team of four specialist occupational physicians who re-evaluate the medical evidence and deliver a consensus opinion on the risk categorisation. If someone is considered borderline, Medmark has indicated that it is highly likely they will be given higher categorisation.
A step forward
Andy said the change in policy, allowing staff with 'high risk' conditions to have fresh assessments, is a step forward: "We encourage all affected members to request a review. There are still outstanding issues to discuss with the department on how schools are treating staff with underlying health conditions, including the availability of PPE.”
To request a review of your occupational health assessment by Medmark:
Contact cork@medmark.ie and add “Risk Assessment Review” in the subject box of your email. You have the option of attaching any additional medical evidence and you should include your name and date of birth.
It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
Public health Covid-19 guidelines were tightened last month, following an increase of coronavirus cases. The new control measures announced on 18th August included limits on both indoor and outdoor gatherings, a restriction on sporting events, and the introduction of a 11.30pm curfew for pubs serving food and restaurants, amongst others.
Public health Covid-19 guidelines were tightened last month, following an increase of coronavirus cases. The new control measures announced on 18th August included limits on both indoor and outdoor gatherings, a restriction on sporting events, and the introduction of a 11.30pm curfew for pubs serving food and restaurants, amongst others.
The HSE has also issued updated advice on cocooning for people who are at very high risk from COVID-19. In addition, workers have been encouraged to work from home where possible, and employers have been asked to facilitate this.
New guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sets out advice for civil and public sector workers, and stresses that employers will continue to determine which staff must report to their workplaces. This is a reaffirmation of the existing position, and Fórsa continues to advise members to go into work if instructed to do so by their line manager – and to contact the union if they have safety concerns.
Fórsa has now updated its Covid-19 safety advice for members who are returning to work – as well as those who have been in the workplace throughout the crisis.
The union advice reflects recent Government announcements and revised official guidance, and also sets out employers’ responsibilities under the Return to Work Safety Protocol, which was agreed by unions, employers and the Government in early May.
The comprehensive protocol outlines the required safety measures in detail, and says that significant changes to work patterns – designed to facilitate social distancing and other safety measures – must be agreed with worker representatives.
DPER’s current position on home working represents a change in emphasis from earlier official guidance, which was last updated in July when public health restrictions were being eased.
It reflects Government measures announced in August which said staff across the economy should work from home “unless it is absolutely essential for an employee to attend in person.” These measures are in force until 13th September at the earliest, by which time revised guidance is expected.
Contact usif you have safety concerns about your workplace.
Read Fórsa’s advice on returning to work and workplace safety requirements HERE.
It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
The experience of remote working during the Covid-19 emergency has demonstrated that work can be carried out remotely in ways that are productive and cost-effective, all while being attractive to employers and their staff. Workers overwhelmingly value the flexibility that remote working can bring, while employers cite improved productivity and cost savings as potential benefits.
The experience of remote working during the Covid-19 emergency has demonstrated that work can be carried out remotely in ways that are productive and cost-effective, all while being attractive to employers and their staff. Workers overwhelmingly value the flexibility that remote working can bring, while employers cite improved productivity and cost savings as potential benefits.
A recent survey, Conducted by Amarách Research on behalf of Fórsa, examining the issue has revealed a huge appetite for working from home, with more than 80% of respondents in favour, preferring a hybrid model with a blend of office-based work and remote activities.
The survey gathered the opinions of more than 4,300 workers and found that 86% of respondents were interested in working remotely.
Although most participants were civil and public servants, its findings broadly mirror similar research conducted by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) last year, in which the majority of respondents were from the private sector.
The survey found that 70% of those who had worked at home during the crisis said remote working had been a positive, or very positive, experience. Reduced exposure to Covid-19 was the most frequently-cited positive factor associated with home working during the pandemic (81%), followed by improved work-life balance (70%), reduced commuting time (67%), and increased work flexibility (55%).
The data indicates that young workers however, while broadly supportive of remote working, experience a unique set of challenges.
Some 66% of workers aged below 30 found remote working to be a positive experience, compared with 81% when looking at all age groups. While almost three-quarters of respondents said their home was suitable for remote working, less than a quarter of those aged under 30 agreed, suggesting that younger workers face particular difficulties when considering home working, a phenomenon that is likely to present in all sectors of the economy.
Similarly, 40% of those surveyed shared their home working space with another adult for some or all of the time. Age and regional factors were significant with more than half of those aged below 30, and 53% of those based in Dublin, sharing home work space.
A lack of interaction with colleagues was the biggest single negative aspect of home working, cited by 69% of respondents. Almost half said they found it harder to find out what was happening at work, and a quarter said management communicated poorly during the pandemic.
Participants also cited difficulty in separating work from home life. These findings broadly mirror the concerns that surfaced in the 2019 DBEI survey.
Worryingly, just 28% of those who worked remotely said a manager had asked them about their home working set-up from a health and safety perspective. The union has now called for the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) to draw up specific employer and employee guidelines on remote working, assessing both physical and mental health risks.
Dialogue
In its submission to a Government consultation on remote working, which was delivered last month, Fórsa called on the Government to open a dialogue with unions and employers, aimed at strengthening the legal framework around remote working, including the possibility of a legal right for employees to seek remote working and other flexible working arrangements.
The submission also insists that those working remotely should benefit from the same rights, guaranteed by legislation and collective agreements, as comparable staff at their employer’s premises.
Considering this, Fórsa will host a webinar for members on 25th September at 1pm, exploring the future for remote working from the perspective of workers, employers, communities and the economy. Our panel of expert speakers will explore issues like productivity, health and safety, work-life balance, and staying connected with colleagues. Details of the event and registration links will circulate to branches shortly.
More information on the results of the Fórsa remote working survey can be found HERE.
Read Fórsa’s submission to a Government consultation on remote working HERE.
Minister Simon Harris has committed to working with unions involved in higher education, stating that “we can’t do this if we don’t do it in partnership.” The minister made the commitment at a webinar event hosted yesterday (Thursday), attended by more than 200 people.
Minister Simon Harris has committed to working with unions involved in higher education, stating that “we can’t do this if we don’t do it in partnership.” The minister made the commitment at a webinar event hosted yesterday (Thursday), attended by more than 200 people.
The event, Future Forward: Investing in Education in a Post-Covid World, was jointly hosted by Education Futures, a coalition of groups advocating for greater investment in higher education and the education group of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).
Minister Harris indicated his intention to select five or six substantial policy areas for stakeholders to work on together over the coming years, with a commonly agreed end-goal.
The event aimed to highlight the urgent need to improve the level of state funding for higher education, and to discuss some of the existing problems in Ireland’s higher education sector, in addition to the particular challenges presented by the Covid pandemic.
Education Futures is comprised of the USI, the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), Fórsa, SIPTU, the TUI and the Irish Secondary Students Union (ISSU).
Improving access
One key area of focus is making further and higher education more accessible. In context of the once radical move to make secondary school free for all, Minister Harris said, "I do genuinely believe my role is to remove barriers, to help individuals to reach their full potential."
Other commitments by the minister included facilitating the development of more college-owned student accommodation, as there’s “currently an over-reliance on the private market.” Overhauling the existing SUSI grant system, and liaising with stakeholders in Northern Ireland, signalling a potential future cross-border university.
Other speakers at the event included President of the Union of Students in Ireland, Lorna Fitzpatrick; Director General of the Irish Universities Association, Jim Miley; and Co-ordinator of ICTU’s education sector group, Macdara Doyle.
Macdara highlighted existing issues in the higher education sector from a workers’ perspective, explaining it’s an extremely pressured and highly precarious environment to work in.
He cited a report that identified 5.5% of staff engaged in unpaid overtime in 2008. This spiked almost five-fold over the proceeding ten years, with a figure of 24.5% in 2018.
"Decent work must be the hallmark of a new higher and further education sector,” he said.
Lorna Fitzpatrick, president of the Union of Students in Ireland emphasised the need for a comprehensive, publicly funded higher education system. Expressing the importance of sustained investment throughout the student experience, Lorna also stated that "Access is not about getting in the front door of college, but ensuring every student can excel and reach their full potential while they are there."
Jim Miley, director general of the Irish Universities Association, expressed the need for a commitment from the State to provide the level of investment to students and higher education bodies necessary to achieve a globally competitive standard qualification.
The event was organised and moderated by Fórsa lead organiser and chair of Education Futures, Kevin Donoghue.
Social media coverage from the event can be reviewed by searching #EducationFutures on Twitter.
It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
Hopefully you’ve had chance to take a restful break during the summer. After our pause in August the Fórsa news bulletin is back and will be delivered to your inbox every fortnight. This is where you will find the latest available union news relevant to your sector.
Hopefully you’ve had chance to take a restful break during the summer. After our pause in August the Fórsa news bulletin is back and will be delivered to your inbox every fortnight. This is where you will find the latest available union news relevant to your sector.
The coming months are set to be a busy period for us all, as schools re-open and other workplaces and services continue to work within the public health guidelines. If you have a story from your workplace that you think we should include please get in touch via the contact page on Fórsa’s website, or speak to your local Fórsa representative.
These are just some of the questions union reps and officials are asked when they talk to people about joining the union.
In a new video compiled and edited by the union’s Communications Unit, we invited our school secretary, SNA and caretaker members to answer the question “Why I’m a member of Fórsa”.
As Ireland’s fastest growing education union, Fórsa supports more than 15,000 workers in the Education sector.
The union’s director of strategic organising Orlagh Fawl said the response from members asked to participate was very encouraging: “Our organisers reached out and hundreds of photos and dozens of video messages came back.
"It’s refreshing to see our members together telling their own story about union membership, and I think this is a strong message for school and classroom staff thinking about joining the union,” she said.
Fórsa assistant general secretary Shane Lambert said the participation of so many members represented an authentic and authoritative message: “This is about the power of what we can achieve together, and while we weren’t able to engage in person with those members that took part, the video will in time remind us of how we continued to work together even as we were all kept apart during the pandemic,” he said.
The Asthma Society of Ireland has launched a host of new resources designed to support people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in returning to work safely.
Two checklists were produced for employees and employers respectively, which help people to both manage their condition at work while also outlining the necessary safety steps employers should take in the wake of Covid-19 for vulnerable staff.
As part of the Back2Work campaign, the Asthma Society also hosted a Facebook live Q&A session with respiratory advanced nurse practitioner, Ruth Morrow. Topics such as travelling to work safely and remaining aware of Covid-19 in the workplace were covered and can be watched back here.
The initiative was developed after one in four users of the Asthma Society’s asthma and COPD adviceline service looked for additional information on returning to work safely in July.
Approximately 380,000 people in Ireland have asthma, with those who experience mild-moderate asthma more likely to experience severe symptoms of Covid-19, should they contract it. While those with severe asthma and COPD are ‘extremely medically vulnerable’ and must take additional steps to stay safe.
The steps outlined in this advice are to prevent the contraction of Covid-19 at work for medically vulnerable people, but if you feel unwell you should not attend work, even if all precautionary steps are in place.
You can help us keep you up-to-date with union information, news and advice by checking your contact details and amending them if necessary. If we have your home and personal contact details (personal email, mobile phone number, and home address) we can get information to you quickly and directly. You can update your contact details HERE.
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.
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.
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.
