New agreement endorsed overwhelmingly
by Bernard Harbor
 
The union’s general secretary Kevin Callinan said the agreement would underpin stability in the delivery of services this year and next.
The union’s general secretary Kevin Callinan said the agreement would underpin stability in the delivery of services this year and next.

Public service unions overwhelmingly endorsed the new agreement called Building Momentum earlier this week. Fórsa was among the 13 ICTU-affiliated public service unions that backed the deal after its members supported it by a 96% margin in a national ballot.

 

The agreement came into force with immediate effect, and runs until December 2022.

 

It includes modest pay increases skewed towards those on lower incomes, measures to address the so-called ‘Haddington Road hours,’ and a mechanism for sectoral bargaining. It also retains strong protections against the outsourcing of public services.

 

The first pay adjustment under the agreement is due in October, one year after the last change.

 

The outcome of Fórsa’s ballot, which was announced last Monday (22nd February) was as follows:

 

Ballots issued:                 67,527

Ballots returned:             39,457

Votes cast in favour:       37,828

Votes cast against:          1,629

Majority in favour:          36,199

 

The union’s general secretary Kevin Callinan said the agreement would underpin stability in the delivery of services this year and next.

 

“I believe Fórsa members have given their strong endorsement to this agreement because its pay provisions are substantially weighted towards workers on lower incomes, and because it includes a mechanism to address the additional working hours introduced for lower-paid public servants during the last financial crisis. This is long overdue, not least because restoration has already been achieved for higher-paid staff who experienced temporary pay cuts as an alternative to added hours.

 

“Fórsa will now work to ensure that the agreement is fully implemented, and that it delivers for those who use and provide public services. It’s a relatively short two-year agreement, which means negotiations on a possible successor will likely commence in the middle of next year,” he said.

 

Kevin is already in contact with senior officials at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) about the implementation of elements of the deal, including the establishment of the processes to address the ‘Haddington Road hours,’ and agreement on bargaining units in relation to the deal’s sectoral bargaining provisions.

 

Building Momentum also acknowledges the recent “unprecedented display of commitment, flexibility, hard work and agility in public service provision” and commits the parties to harness this momentum to meet challenges including the continuing response to Covid-19, a return to normal delivery of health and education services, Brexit, and establishing the public service as the driver of best practice on remote working.

 

Read a summary of the agreement HERE. 

 

It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE. 

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