The membership of Fórsa’s education division reached 17,000 for the first time this week. It’s an increase of more than 5,000 members over the last three years. And, as our membership density has improved, so have the outcomes we’ve been able to deliver for our members.

During the earlier phases of the Covid-19 pandemic the recruitment of members significantly increased as a direct consequence of Fórsa’s efforts to protect members in the workplace. This also resulted in greater public awareness of the work of as special needs assistants (SNAs), school secretaries and other education workers.

The #RespectforSNAs Campaign has also resulted in significant interest in the union and further increased our numbers as members started a debate around the nature of education and training for the SNA workforce.

During the first part of 2022, the union achieved a €1,100 annual increase in the SNA salary scale. Critically, our new pay agreement for school secretaries was concluded on terms that could not have achieved without the doubling our branch membership over the course of the dispute.

As we move into the latter part of 2022 we will continue to strive for greater recruitment and higher union density in the workplace because this is the best way to improve negotiated outcomes for members.

For instance, I hope to see the implementation of a new job evaluation scheme for members in higher education later this year. This presents a valuable opportunity to persuade more education workers that they are better off in the union.

Overdue talks on a new national SNA contract will commence shortly. This provides an opportunity to address the often-abused obligation for SNAs to be available to work an additional 72 hours a year.

Linked to that issue are the developments on modernising the minimum essential qualification to become an SNA from three Junior Certificate D passes.

Last week, UCD recommended that the national SNA training programme should be accredited at NFQ level seven, a significant change from the status quo. This followed commitments given in June to the Joint Dáil Education Committee by minister Josipha Madigan, who supported a review of the minimum qualification to conclude by the end of 2022.

I mentioned earlier that we had secured a pay agreement for school secretaries, who are now joining the union in large numbers prior to implementation of the first phase of the agreement in September.

Later in 2022 we hope to secure a similar agreement for school caretakers, which should also result in significant recruitment once terms are finalised.

We have a large agenda for the rest of 2022 including resolving outstanding issues for our members working in school completion programmes, the education and training boards and education centres, not to mention the need to recruit as many new SNAs as we can from the 1,000 new posts allocated across our schools this September.

Wherever you look in the Fórsa Education Division, it’s pretty clear that where we make an effort to increase union membership and density we go on to improve outcomes for the working people we represent.

That’s why our education executive has set an ambitious membership target of 18,000 by the end of the year.

I hope you all enjoy the summer break and get some well-deserved rest. And, if you happen to meet another public servant on your travels this summer, don’t forget to tell them they are better off in Fórsa. They can join online at www.forsa.ie.