Health unions met with members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on Monday (8th April). 

The meeting was sought by the Oireachtas Committee due to concerns raised by the health unions about acute overcrowding, congestion and delayed delivery of services, an ongoing feature of operations at the hospital.

Ahead of the meeting Fórsa surveyed its members working at UHL, the results of which were presented to the Oireachtas Committee during the meeting.

Fórsa official Mike MacNamara said the Fórsa survey illustrated the issues affecting members arising from the ongoing recruitment embargo imposed by the HSE last October. 

He added: “We advised the committee that the issues affecting the emergency department filtered down to the outpatients’ clinics, and affects HSCPs, pharmacy and other areas where we have clearly identified lack of resources, staff stress and burnout, staff retention problems and a real sense that staff are feeling undervalued.”

The Fórsa survey reveals that many departments cannot operate at full capacity due to understaffing, with a significant number of respondents describing the hospital as being “at breaking point.”

Mike added: “All the unions had the same ask: to withdraw the recruitment moratorium and start to put in place a viable plan to deal with the resources needed for the long-term viability of the hospital’s emergency department. 

“We also addressed the issues arising from the HSE's planned use of St Conlon's nursing home in Nenagh, and our opposition to the HSE outsourcing it as a step-down facility.”

“We advised the Oireachtas members of what we’ve described as a total breakdown in trust between ourselves and management arising from the blatant disregard for the consultation requirements and the breach of public service agreements on outsourcing,” he said.

Mike also highlighted specific problems including trollies blocking corridors, the lack of toilet facilities for the large numbers of patients on trollies, the inability of porters to navigate their way through the blocked corridors to transport patients and the “indignity” for patients of having to discuss private and sensitive health concerns within earshot of other patients.

Unions also advised the committee that Ireland has a hospital bed occupancy rate in excess of 97% and, taking into account admitted patients waiting in UHL’s emergency department, that the actual rate is 105%, while the internationally accepted level is just 85%.

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

Fórsa, alongside the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), the INMO, and SIPTU, is continuing to pursue the prompt payment of funds to workers in Section 39 organisations from the Health Service Executive (HSE). This is essential to fulfilling the terms of the Interim Pay Agreement that was negotiated last October on the eve of an indefinite strike. 

The HSE has attributed the blockage to a lack of information provided by the organisations involved.

Ashley Connolly, head of the health and welfare division said: “The delay in these payments is totally unacceptable, and we urge all management stakeholders to expedite the process without further delay.”

Last October a planned strike by community healthcare and social care workers, was put on hold after late-night negotiations resulted in an 8% pay offer. Employees from 19 organisations, such as the Irish Wheelchair Association, Cheshire Ireland, Ability West, Cobh Hospital, and Enable Ireland, were ready to picket but the coalition of unions agreed to recommend acceptance of a proposal agreed at the Workplace Relations Commission. 

This package entailed a 3% salary increase backdated to 1st April of 2023, with an additional 2% raise effective from 1st November, and a subsequent 3% increase as of 1st March 2024. 

In an update issued to members last week unions explained that at a meeting on Friday 5th April, the HSE said that they have been pressing for the information needed to facilitate the timely payment of funds. 

They also expressed disappointment with the rate of response and insisted that they have implemented all necessary measures to support the organisations concerned in completing the required processes. 

The HSE underscored the urgency for Section 39 organisations to engage promptly to expedite the funding process for payments.

“Further progress is expected this week, and we have a follow-up meeting with the HSE due to take place today, Friday 12th April, to assess developments. We will continue to press for payment of the agreed increases as soon as possible” finished Ashley Connolly.

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

In a major win for our members Fórsa has successfully secured collective bargaining rights with CoAction after years of tireless advocacy and negotiation. 

CoAction is the designated service provider for children & adults with an intellectual disability and Autism in the West Cork area.   

Fórsa assistant general secretary Eddie Walsh said: “This achievement is a testament to the unwavering dedication and solidarity of our members, who have stood united in their pursuit of fair treatment and representation in the workplace. Through their resilience and commitment, we have reached a pivotal milestone in our journey towards greater empowerment and equality for all workers.”

Collective bargaining rights empower employees to negotiate with their employers on important issues such as wages, working conditions and organisational policies. 

Our members at CoAction will now have a stronger voice in shaping their workplace environment and ensuring their concerns are heard and addressed.

Arising from collective bargaining rights having been secured by Fórsa, SIPTU & the INMO, it was agreed by both management and unions that a full review of all internal policies and procedures was required as an initial step to commencing our collective engagement with the organisation.

It has also been agreed that management will engage with the union on any current issues, both individual and collective, pertaining to workplace/industrial relations matters which remain outstanding.

Eddie continued “This achievement reaffirms the importance of collective action in advancing the interests of workers and strengthening our communities.” 

"As we move forward, we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue with CoAction management to establish fair and equitable terms that benefit both employees and the organisation, and the service users who rely on CoAction. Working together we can cultivate a workplace culture founded on mutual respect, collaboration and collective well-being” he concluded.

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

A recent meeting between Fórsa representatives and members of Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland (HPAI) with the Health Service Executive (HSE) on 25th March, marked a crucial step towards implementing the McLoughlin Report. In November 2011, Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin completed the Review of Hospital Pharmacy, the first such review since 1978 when the current grading structure was set up.

This meeting followed a comprehensive exchange of documentation, including draft texts of circulars, job specifications for various roles such as Pharmacy Executive Manager (PEM), Deputy PEM, and Advanced Specialist Pharmacist, as well as procedural documents like process flows, application forms, and FAQs for the validation process of Advanced Specialist Pharmacists.

Linda Kelly said, "We are at the final stage of discussion on the implementation of a key part of the Hospital Pharmacy Agreement, which will see the creation of Deputy PEM posts and Advanced Specialist Pharmacist posts within the career structure for Hospital Pharmacists. This result has been hard-fought and is a significant win for all Fórsa members working in hospital pharmacies."

All substantive matters have been resolved among the involved parties. Only one final exchange of draft documentation is left before it is sent to the Department of Health. Once this stage is reached, the technical group's final report will be shared with all members, offering valuable insights for the upcoming validation process.

Looking ahead, the HPAI AGM is set for Saturday 20th April offering an opportunity for a comprehensive progress update. Later this year information meetings will be organised to help Hospital Pharmacists understand the validation process.

Linda commended the patience of members during this lengthy process, stating, "Hospital Pharmacists have worked collectively for a long period to ensure this outcome. Their  incredible resilience throughout this industrial relations process will serve to inspire other Fórsa members that when colleagues come together on an issue, they win.  I am very much looking forward to meeting with members  over the coming months as we support those eligible to apply for the validation process.”

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

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has released a research paper aiming to counter a wave of complaints from the business sector in relation to legislation that aims to improve working conditions.

Many of the government measures being attacked were either flagged in the Programme for Government or were temporary supports introduced to alleviate the devastating impact of COVID-19. The ICTU document sets out to be an antidote to fictions and myths that are being rolling out by employers.

In the report’s foreword, ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy said:

“In the last number of months, we have heard a lot of rhetoric and anecdotes about the rising cost of doing business in Ireland today. In many instances much of this narrative has remained unchallenged and despite the real facts that are contained in this paper, this false perspective articulated by many business groups has become the accepted truth in many quarters.”

The chorus of criticism from business lobbyists comes at a time when the Irish government is implementing a series of measures to improve working conditions, these include a higher minimum wage, statutory sick pay, pension auto-enrolment, parental leave rights, remote working, a new public holiday, and increased social insurance.

The report points out that these reforms aim to align Ireland with Western European standards and address flaws in the labour market.

It also points out that many employers received additional support from the government due to factors like Brexit, Covid-19, the conflict in Ukraine, and rising living costs, and are now struggling to wean themselves off these subsidies. 

Employment in Ireland currently sits at historic levels with 2.71 million people in work. The report pushes back against a general culture of lament that ignores growth. In 2023, the rate of business failures stood at 27 per 10,000, while the average over the past 19 years was double that figure, at 50 per 10,000. This average encompasses the dark period of the global economic crash after 2008.

The report outlines how false threats to jobs in the low pay sector are used to shore up demands coming from business for PRSI rebates and cuts. Not surprisingly, Irish companies are getting off easy compared to their EU counterparts when it comes to paying employer PRSI, getting a sweet deal at the expense of wider society. 

"If we are to have a real debate about the state of our economy and the world of work in Ireland, where it has come from and perhaps where it is going, we need to have both sides of the labour market, the voice of business but also the voice of workers,” said Reidy.

Download the report “Challenging myths and improving working conditions in a strong economy” here.

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

Last Friday, 29th March, the country celebrated the 20th anniversary of Ireland’s smoking ban, a step that made Ireland the first country in the world in put in place a nationwide workplace smoking ban. 

The legislation to institute a comprehensive smoking ban was brought in by then Health Minister Micheál Martin TD. It came after years of campaigning from pressure groups, unions, and concerned individuals.

Members of the municipal division of Fórsa’s predecessor union IMPACT, Mark Wynne and Mick McLoughlin took part in the campaign for a smoking ban. 

In 2002, the men brought forward a “landmark motion” calling for a smoking ban to IMPACT’s biennial conference. This motion became part of the campaign for a legislative change that would have what Mick McLoughlin recently described as a “seismic effect on the health of workers.” 

Before the nationwide smoking ban there was a wave of workplace smoking bans in county councils. Mark Wynne played a significant role in the first of these bans which was put in place by Dublin City Council.

Sitting on the council’s health and safety committee, Mark was able to convince the council of the need for a smoking ban. 

This did not come without resistance. Mark remembers how he and the other committee members overcame opposition by visiting depots and workplaces. When they spoke to workers, Mark recalls, "We outlined what we were hoping to do, and most importantly, why we were going to do it."

“At that time, I used to drive a lorry. There’d be three or four men in the lorry and if one was smoking it meant the other three were being affected by passive smoking. It wasn’t a nice experience at all.”

Mark cites the New York City smoking ban in hospitality as providing inspiration. Though it was less comprehensive, it proved that a smoking ban was achievable. 

Since the ban came into force, the number of smokers in Ireland has dropped from a little over one-in-four to a little under one-in-five.

Richy Carrothers, Head of Fórsa’s Local Government & Local Services & Municipal Employees divisions, said “I don’t think it is possible to measure the health impacts of the smoking ban. Workers will live longer, healthier lives in a more pleasant, safer working environment. Today it just seems like common sense, but at the time it was a big deal, and our members were front and central in this fight.”

Despite early scepticism the smoking ban has endured, spreading across the world, with similar bans now in effect in 74 countries. Unions played an important role in the this success, having thrown their full support behind the ban, as covered in the Irish Times in 2003.

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

New to the union? Find your feet with Fórsa 101 

Fórsa 101 is a short information and awareness raising session to welcome new members into the union and highlight how members can become more engaged in the union locally.   This session is specifically targeted to those who have never received any training previously or are not currently active within the union.
It provides basic information to ensure our members understand exactly what a trade union is, the structure of Fórsa and how we do our business, along with discussing how members can become more engaged and have their voice heard locally and their issues raised at divisional and national levels.

You have the option of taking part at the 09.30am slot in the morning or at 6pm in the evening. Each session will last between two to two and a half hours and will be conducted online.

The next session takes place on Wednesday 8th May 2024 and you can sign up here.

Discover the tools of financial resilience 

This month’s live Lunch and Learn, is not to be missed. The session is with Conor Henry, project coordinator and trainer with the Financial Resilience Training (FRT) programme run by TASC, Ireland’s Think Tank for action on Social Change. 

Financial resilience is the ability of individuals, or households, to cope with negative events that impact their finances. It’s about feeling secure and in control, knowing that you can pay the bills, deal with the unexpected, and have achievable goals for the future. FRT focuses on day-to-day money management, covering topics such as money and values, budgeting and saving, managing debt, utility costs, and identifying support services.

This is an opportunity for our members to hear more about how to build financial resilience, for themselves and their families, using simple tools and resources and all participants will be provided with a toolkit including activities, resources and links which will help them build their financial resilience.

As with all Lunch and Learn sessions, this takes place online on the last Friday of the month (ie Friday, 26th April from 1pm-2pm. Click here to register by 1pm on Wednesday 24th April).

Introducing a new intensive course on presentation skills

This two-day presentation skills course runs from 11am to 4pm on Tuesday 30th April with a follow-up day from 11am to 4pm on Wednesday May 22nd.  This is a new course, which was initially developed with branch training officers in mind, to develop skills they can use locally to potentially deliver an introductory information session to new members about how their branch operates.  The skills learned on this course can be used in a variety of ways across a range of other roles, but currently branch training officers are best placed to establish a link and provide learning opportunities to new and current members.

This course will begin by developing effective communication skills. The first day will focus on understanding your audience, shaping, and framing your delivery. This will prepare participants for the practical aspect which will follow on day two, three weeks later, where they will deliver a project presentation to the full group.

We still have a few spaces left and you can apply here. Apply by 12pm on Friday 12th April.

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

A new study has revealed persistent gender disparities in labour market participation and working conditions in both Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

The new study reveals that one quarter of women in Ireland, and 21% of women in Northern Ireland, were classified as low-paid, earning less than two-thirds of the median hourly pay. 

The figure for men was 18% in Ireland and 14% in Northern Ireland.

The study was published this week as part of a research programme between the Department of the Taoiseach’s Shared Island Unit and the ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute).

In its assessment of barriers to employment in both jurisdictions, the report highlights significant differences in low pay, working from home, and hours of work between women and men.

The study also reveals that women living in Ireland work longer hours than those living in Northern Ireland, while women in Northern Ireland were less likely to work from home, which is due to their over-representation in jobs in health, education and front-line public administration and part-time jobs.

When taking account of factors such as education, sector, and age, women in both Ireland and Northern Ireland were consistently more likely to be low-paid compared to men. Notably, higher education offered strong protection against low pay in both jurisdictions.

Access to affordable early childhood care and education remains a key issue as well as expanding after-school care for parents with older children.

Report author Garance Hingre said labour market inclusion is a key component of gender equality: “Women experience common disadvantages in the labour market across the island of Ireland. Yet the scale and nature of gender differences are also shaped by national policies and demographics. Comparing neighbouring systems offers an opportunity for mutual policy learning.”

The study, drawing on data for 2022 and a consultation with stakeholders, found that the gendered nature of care responsibilities poses challenges for women’s access to high-quality employment, and is a feature common to both jurisdictions. 

Fórsa official with responsibility for the union's equality committee Ashley Connolly said the study’s findings bears out the lived experience of women across the Irish workforce, and said unions continue to play a vital role in overcoming barriers to well-paid employment and creating conditions to eliminate gendered disparities in the workplace: “This new study is timely and reveals more about the gender pay gap.

“It provides policy makers with genuinely useful data, as well as a challenge to overcome the obvious disparities.

“Organising women in the workplace remains the key to building their power and, ultimately, to making improvements in access to early childhood care and education. This continues to be a challenge for unions, and this study helps workers to identify the priorities for achieving genuine equality,” she said.

The full study is available here.

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

The Raise the Roof campaign will hold a rally outside the Dáil to call for secure and affordable housing for all next Tuesday 23rd April at 5.30pm. 

This coincides with the Dáil debate on an agreed opposition party motion that demands a new plan for housing, which prioritises delivery of secure and affordable homes to rent and buy.

Fórsa is participating in the Raise the Roof housing campaign, which is coordinated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). The campaign is made up of a number of organisations including trade unions, housing and homeless agencies, student unions, Traveller groups, human rights advocacy groups and community organisations.

The opposition party motion is supported by Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats, the Labour Party, People before Profit/ Solidarity, and several left-leaning independents. 

Contained in the motion are a number of demands:
•    For government to develop a new plan on housing that will prioritise affordability and security for all in the housing sector.
•    Increased delivery targets of public housing and genuinely affordable homes.
•    Higher investment in housing, and a greater focus on bringing vacant homes back into use. 
•    The reintroduction of the ban on no fault evictions and measures to cut rents. 
•    A new student accommodation strategy focused on affordability developed in conjunction with student unions and colleges.
•    Full implementation of recommendations from the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review. 
•    Full implementation of the Irish Refugee Council proposals on emergency accommodation for those seeking protection.

In addition, the motion calls for a referendum on the right to housing. Despite repeated commitments from government, this has yet to take place.

Calling on union members to support the rally ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy said: “This is an issue for unions and wider civil society. We need a housing system reset. We’ve been doing the same thing for a decade, with ever worsening outcomes for young workers, families, students and many, many others. 

“The two elements absent from current policy are security and affordability and these must now be prioritised. Without secure and affordable homes, no housing policy can hope to succeed,” Mr Reidy said. 

Why not meet up with your work mates at the rally.  Together we can create a visible and strong union presence.  Look out for the Fórsa flags!

The Raise the Roof campaign is calling on people to sign their petition in support of the aims of the campaign.

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

On Thursday March 21st Fórsa President Michael Smyth and Treasurer Julie Flood had the pleasure of travelling to Monaghan to award four worthy charities donations on behalf of members.

The money, which was raised at the Fórsa President’s dinner in January 2024, was split evenly between the charities, each receiving €6,000.

The charities are all based in the Northwest and provide necessary services to the people living there.

Michael Smyth said: “We have selected a wonderful group of charities, and everyone who donated will be delighted to know the fantastic work their generous contributions will go towards supporting.”

The four charities are:

•    Ballybay Cancer Society – a charity that helps cancer patients financially and provides them with a transport service to hospital for treatment.
•    Errigal Truagh Special Needs Parents & Friends – a charity set up by a group of parents and families of adults with physical and intellectual disabilities. They provide a social outlet for individuals with special needs through their wide variety of activities and classes.
•    SOSAD (Save our Sons and Daughters) Monaghan – a branch of the national SOSAD organisation, a non-profit that provides free counselling services to people who are suffering with mental health issues.
•    Down Syndrome Centre North - provide a wide variety of supports and services for children with down syndrome and their families. 

Fórsa Treasurer Julie Flood said of the visit: “It was great to have the opportunity to visit the workplaces where these charities provide vital services to people who need support. Fórsa are proud to support their work.” 

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