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Essential staff deserve equal protections
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa has insisted that essential health staff who have attended work throughout the Covid-19 crisis should get the same health and safety protections as public servants returning to workplaces after periods of remote-working.


Fórsa has insisted that essential health staff who have attended work throughout the Covid-19 crisis should get the same health and safety protections as public servants returning to workplaces after periods of remote-working.


Unions have negotiated a protocol, which outlines the steps that employers must take to ensure a safe workplace when staff return to work as national restrictions are relaxed in the coming weeks and months.


Fórsa subsequently sought and received confirmation from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) that the protocol applies in the health sector, and that its provisions must apply to workers who have been present in their workplaces throughout the crisis.


This includes health workers in all streams, including health and social care professionals (HSCPs), clerical and admin staff, managers, technical grades and others.


The requirement to apply the protections in health settings was subsequently acknowledged in Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) guidance, which says: “Employers should ensure that the Return to Work Safely Protocol is reviewed for any additional issues that should be considered to ensure compliance with the protocol for those employees who are already working onsite.”


In talks with the HSE and other health service employers this week, Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, said the protocol explicitly covers frontline settings, and that DPER’s advice removed any doubt about its application in hospitals and other health settings.


“It makes explicit provision for what it calls ‘customer-facing’ settings, or what we call patient and community care settings. So there’s no reason why staff who put their health at risk at the height of the crisis should not now enjoy its full protections. Anything less would increase the public health risk and insult health workers, including the 7,600-plus who have already contracted the virus,” he said.


Health staff make up over 32% of the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Ireland. This is the highest proportion in Europe. Over 25% of the health workers who’ve contracted the virus are from health and social care professional grades represented by Fórsa.


The ‘return to work safety protocol’ was agreed between the Government, unions, and employer representatives through a tripartite body called the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF). Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan is one of four union reps on the LEEF.

 

If you have questions or concerns about your own situation, you can contact Fórsa HERE

 

See Fórsa’s guidance on the ‘return to work’ protocols HERE


See the DPER document HERE (section 6.2 refers to settings where staff have continued to work).

 

 

 

 

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.

Health staff stretched as services reopen
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, has said there will be a continued need for temporary staff redeployments into hospital and community health settings, which are set to resume normal health service delivery over the coming weeks.


Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, has said there will be a continued need for temporary staff redeployments into hospital and community health settings, which are set to resume normal health service delivery over the coming weeks.


In meetings this week, he told the HSE that existing staff numbers were insufficient to resume all standard services while continuing to deal with coronavirus cases and stepping up Covid-19 testing and contact tracing.


Testing and tracing is a central plank of the Government’s plans to gradually relax restrictions on movement and activity across society and the economy.


Fórsa says the bulk of reassignments have so far been within the health sector, and that it would be impossible to move staff back to normal work without either leaving gaps in the coronavirus response or finding additional qualified staff from elsewhere.

 

The union says that the resumption of normal health services will create an immediate demand for some staff reassigned to Covid duties to return to their substantive posts. This risks creating gaps in the pandemic response.

 

There is already a qualified and willing pool of workers in struggling community ‘section 39’ agencies, which are independent of the HSE but receive public money to provide disability, homelessness, addiction and other services.


Éamonn said: “Health staff want a rapid resumption of normal services in hospitals and community settings. But we simply don’t have the numbers to do it while the pandemic continues to make such high demands.


“Weeks ago, Fórsa proposed that trained and qualified community and voluntary agency staff could be quickly deployed in residential and other health settings. This now needs to happen as a matter of urgency,” he said.


Two months ago, Fórsa proposed that section 39 workers be brought into the HSE for the duration of the coronavirus crisis. But the health department won’t agree because it fears the move would lead to marginal additional short-term costs.


The delivery of non-Covid-19 health services are set to increase between now and late June under the Government’s ‘roadmap for reopening society and business’, which was published earlier this month.

 

 

 

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

New union guidance for remote working
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa has published new advice for workers who will be working remotely in the medium or long-term.


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.

 

Read the Fórsa guidance HERE. 

 

If you have questions or concerns about your own situation, you can contact Fórsa HERE

 

 

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.

Childcare concerns grow as restrictions ease
by Hazel Gavigan and Bernard Harbor
 

Increasing number of workers could struggle with childcare problems in the coming weeks as employees migrate back to workplaces after working remotely.


Increasing number of workers could struggle with childcare problems in the coming weeks as employees migrate back to workplaces after working remotely.

 

The Government’s ‘roadmap for reopening society and business,’ launched earlier this month, saw some workplaces reopening last week. And, while many workers will continue to work at home for some weeks or even months, a growing number are set to return to offices and other workplaces.

 

But the Government’s plan envisages crèches, childminding and pre-school facilities reopening “in a phased manner,” for essential workers from the end of June. This will gradually increase to other workers, on a phased basis, from 20th July.

 

Half of all workers depend on such childcare facilities, and the Government’s roadmap says they could initially open for just a day a week before “slowly increasing thereafter.” Schools and colleges won’t open to students until September at the earliest.

 

Meanwhile, a new report from the union-backed Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) says women are set to be disproportionately affected by this “misalignment” of the return to workplaces and reopening of childcare facilities.

 

It says access to childcare will be a significant issue for many people returning to work as around 40% of workers have dependent children.

 

Although the official focus on childcare is on the reopening of schools and crèches, NERI says many people rely more on family members and friends. Its senior economist Lisa Wilsons said that accounts for half of workers in the Republic of Ireland.

 

“This dominant reliance on family is particularly important in the context of current public health restrictions as wider family circles are currently unable to physically interact with each other,” she said.

 

Given the poor policy intervention to address this issue, there is a serious risk that lack of access to childcare will affect families’ ability to leave the home and participate in the labour market.

 

Ms Wilson said the coronavirus had intensified gender inequality in the home as women assume the bulk of caring responsibilities.

 

“Research has highlighted that without access to childcare, gendered patterns of care are being replicated during lockdown and in many cases magnified.

 

“It is a well-known fact that women’s disproportionate responsibility for childcare within the home affects their ability to enter and progress equally in the labour market. This inequality is now being exacerbated by the lack of access to childcare owing to the Covid-19 crisis,” she said.

 

Get more information HERE

 

 

 

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 chief welcomes €1.85 trillion proposal
by Bernard Harbor and Anna Heverin
 

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan has welcomed a proposed European Commission post-Covid recovery plan, worth €750 billion, which would bring the total EU budget to €1.85 trillion over the next seven years.


Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan has welcomed a proposed European Commission post-Covid recovery plan, worth €750 billion, which would bring the total EU budget to €1.85 trillion over the next seven years.


In an opinion piece for the Irish Examiner he said the move suggested that the EU was moving away from the austerity of previous years, and towards the ‘social democratic’ policies favoured by trade unions.


And he called on the incoming Irish Government to follow suit and “avoid poor choices that hurt ordinary workers and their families and put the concerns of citizens down the agenda.”


The Commission’s proposed ‘next generation’ budget envisages the EU deploying a blend of spending, grants and borrowing. Support would be available to all EU member states, with most going to those worst affected by the pandemic.


This would include a new ‘recovery and resilience facility,’ worth €560 billion in financial supports for climate action, ‘digital transition,’ and other projects. It also includes almost €10 billion to strengthen health security and prepare for future health crises.


Launching the plan in Brussels on Wednesday (27th May), European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyden said her proposal would allow Europe to deal with the present crisis and prepare for the future.


But she warned that it required unanimous backing from EU member states. There is resistance from the so-called ‘frugal four’: Austria, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands.


In his Examiner article, which first appeared as a Fórsa blog earlier this week, Kevin Callinan identified a “sharp switch in EU political direction,” notwithstanding the reservations of those four countries.


“Unlike the conditions that prevailed a decade ago, Europe appears to be moving in what might be characterised as a social democratic direction,” he wrote. Kevin said the Commission’s emphasis on health services was also significant.


“The pandemic has produced a tremendous national effort, led by the health service and our heroic frontline staff, and supported by the wider public service. But this can’t conceal the fact that our infection rates, notably among healthcare workers, are poor compared with countries with better health systems.


“The historical underfunding of our public system, coupled with a convoluted model of private provision in acute hospitals and residential and homecare settings, has impaired our ability to maximise a fully coherent and integrated response,” he wrote.

 

 

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.

Feature Article
Update your contact details
 

By keeping your contact details up to date we can ensure these regular bulletins deliver news of the most important developments directly to you.

 

Your home or personal email address helps to ensure direct, safe and more effective communications with you than a workplace email address.

 

If you've changed employment recently or prefer to receive information directly to your personal account, you can update your contact details HERE.


Also in this issue
Covid-19: Advice to Fórsa members
 

Fórsa has updated its advice on coronavirus-related work issues for civil servants and staff in the wider public service. The advice covers attendance at work (including for pregnant workers and those with health vulnerabilities), salary protections for those self-isolating, temporary staff transfers, childcare and more. Read it HERE.

 

 

 

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.

Join Fórsa online
 

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.

 

You can join Fórsa online at https://join.forsa.ie/

 

Bullying costs €240 million a year
by Mehak Dugal
 

Workplace bullying is more prevalent in the public service than in the private sector, but is more likely to damage productivity by causing absences in the latter.

 

That’s according to a new study from NUI Galway, which estimates that bullying-related absences account for 1.7 million lost working days a year, and a total annual cost to the economy of almost €240 million.

 

The study builds on previous research from the university, which showed the relationship between bullying and work-related stress. The new study looks at the economic costs.

 

John Cullinan, who led the research team, said increased incidents of remote working on foot of the Covid-19 crisis was unlikely to eliminate bullying-related costs.

 

His colleague Margaret Hodgins added that the significant economic cost of bullying, as well as the damaging personal impact, warranted a more proactive policy approach to the issue.

 

Read the report HERE.

 

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.

ICTU calls for massive stimulus
by Bernard Harbor
 

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called for a massive fiscal stimulus, with public investment across a range of public service and infrastructure projects, as part of a plan for Ireland’s recovery from the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.


‘No going back: a new deal towards a safe and secure future for all’ also calls for universal free public health care, a massive programme of public house building, a cap on the price of childcare, increased investment in education, and the scrapping of plans to increase the State pension qualification age to 67.


The paper outlines proposals for a ‘green new deal’ to tackle climate change, and includes environmental taxes among measures to fund its ambitious programme. It also calls for higher taxes on wealth – including inheritance and gifts – as well as higher “social contributions” from employers.


It says that Ireland’s tax take per person lags behind the EU average, along with its spending on public services.


‘No going back’ also sets out demands for stronger social dialogue and collective bargaining rights.


Launching the programme, ICTU general secretary Patricia King warned against a sudden removal of income supports for workers laid off as a result of the pandemic.


“The response to this crisis has to be different this time. Austerity is neither socially acceptable nor economically necessary. We believe that the length and depth of the recession will be determined, at least in part, by the policies we choose and values that guide us,” she said.


She said that, like all other states, Ireland would need to borrow, taking advantage of low interest rates to create jobs and re-establish economic activity.


“We need to couple this with reform. Our paper clearly shows that employers pay considerably less than their European peers when it comes to employers’ PRSI. The State, as the backer of last resort, needs to be adequately financed and all sectors have to pay their fair share,” she said.


Read the report HERE.

 

 

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: Here to support you
 

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.