Votáil 100: centenary of women’s suffrage rights
by Lisa Connell
Today marks the centenary of the legislation that permitted Irish women to vote and stand in parliamentary elections for the first time. It’s also 100 years since the first woman MP was elected to Westminster.
Today marks the centenary of the legislation that permitted Irish women to vote and stand in parliamentary elections for the first time. It’s also 100 years since the first woman MP was elected to Westminster.
Constance Georgine Markievicz was elected in a Dublin constituency, but never took her seat at Westminster. Instead, she joined the revolutionary first Dáil, becoming the first female TD.
The first of the commemoration events on women’s suffrage took place in Glasnevin Cemetery last Sunday (4th February). The event coincided with Constance Markievicz’s 150th birthday, but it also focused on the three issues she championed: labour, nationalism and suffrage.
ICTU general secretary Patricia King reflected on an industrial dispute with a manufacturer of rosary beads, which Markievicz was involved in. The event was also addressed by Sinn Féin president-elect Mary Lou McDonald, and Ivana Bacik, Labour senator and the chair of Votáil 100.
The speakers all reflected on current efforts for the political and economic advancement of women, but focused particularly on the current make-up of the Oireachtas.
Sunday’s event was the first of many commemoration events remembering the fight for women’s suffrage.
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Extra driver-testers needed
by Bernard Harbor
Fórsa has met with Road Safety Authority officials to call for the recruitment of additional driver testers to deal with an underlying increase in demand for tests.
Fórsa has met with Road Safety Authority officials to call for the recruitment of additional driver testers to deal with an underlying increase in demand for tests. The union has also said extra temporary resources may be needed if measures in the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, currently going through the Oireachtas, leads to additional demand.
Fórsa official Ashley Connolly said the number of driver-testers had fallen by almost 20% since 2007 and is now incapable of meeting underlying demand, which has increased on foot of economic recovery. As a result, average waiting times have risen to 14 weeks – four weeks more than the 10-week target, which was previously being met.
The Government has sanctioned recruitment of six additional testers, and a competition is underway. But Fórsa says this falls short of what is required.
The union says additional recruitment would reduce waiting times and improve road safety at no additional cost to the taxpayer, because the service has been self-funding since 2014. The Road Safety Authority raises revenue through the €85 price of a driving test, plus revenue raised through the theory test, NCT test and the national driving licence service.
No ballot on management pay package
Fórsa has said it will not ballot Ryanair pilots on a company-imposed pay package, after its members in the airline unanimously said it would be unacceptable to put the proposal to a vote in its present form. The pilots were consulted in a series of general meetings.
Fórsa has said it will not ballot Ryanair pilots on a company-imposed pay package, after its members in the airline unanimously said it would be unacceptable to put the proposal to a vote in its present form. The pilots were consulted in a series of general meetings.
The union has since written to the airline to say that its pilots have rejected management calls for a ballot because the package was not negotiated with Fórsa and, in its present form, would rule out further pay discussions with the union.
Fórsa says this undermines the company’s offer to recognise the union for collective bargaining in the airline. The union is also concerned that the proposed package, and subsequent correspondence, confirms management’s intention to retain a company-controlled system of pilot representation in parallel with union talks.
Fórsa says it will reconsider putting a package to ballot if it receives written assurances that the union is the “sole and exclusive representative body for collective bargaining purposes including pay, terms and conditions” for Ryanair pilots employed in Ireland.
It also wants assurances that acceptance of the package would not preclude pay talks with Fórsa or the backdating of any pay awards on foot of those negotiations.
Flexitime pilot to commence
by Bernard Harbor
Pilot studies established to test the feasibility of allowing civil and public servants to convert some of their leave into flexitime are expected to commence this month and conclude in June.
Pilot studies established to test the feasibility of allowing civil and public servants to convert some of their leave into flexitime are expected to commence this month and conclude in June.
Fórsa believes the studies will confirm that it’s doable, and will then want to see the facility rolled out as widely as possible- including in non-commercial semi-state bodies.
Management reluctantly agreed to undertake the pilots during negotiations that led to the ratification of the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA), which was overwhelmingly backed by members of Fórsa and other public service unions.
Unions believe a provision to convert annual leave into flexitime could help staff with a temporary need for more flexible working arrangements. The terms of reference for the pilot studies, which will take place in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Kerry County Council, have been agreed with Fórsa and other unions.
Although these improvements fell short of union demands for the full restoration of additional hours introduced under the Haddington Road Agreement in 2011, they at least give options to staff whose circumstances mean time is more important to them than money.
Executive pay fuels inequality
by Diarmaid Mac A Bhaird
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions latest annual survey into executive pay warns that rising executive pay in the private sector will inevitably lead to a rise in wider inequality.
Rising executive pay in the private sector will inevitably lead to a rise in wider inequality, according to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Its latest annual survey into executive pay Because We’re Worth It: The Truth About CEO Pay in Ireland also warns of a regulatory gap, which means Irish-registered companies based in London can avoid best practise regarding female membership of corporate boards.
The survey, which examines the remuneration of CEOs at 27 companies, finds that an average earner would have to work 270 years to earn the equivalent of the boss of CRH. It would take them 62 years to earn the equivalent of the Aryzta CEO’s remuneration package.
Dr Peter Rigney, one of the authors of the report, said: “If this trend is left unchecked it will inevitably lead to greater levels of inequality across Irish society. We have yet to see conclusive evidence of a direct causal link between high CEO pay and company performance.”
Five of the seven companies being examined for the first time were quoted on the London stock exchange, and had seen the pay of their CEOs fall in the past 12 months. The report says increased political will to tackle rising executive pay in the UK is the main reason for this. The authors say this debate has yet to start in Ireland.
This year’s report also examined gender diversity at executive and director level. It identified just two female CEOs – at FBD and Glanbia – in the 27 companies examined. “Most companies have a long way to go if an average of at least two female directors was to be in place,” it says.
The report also found that three of the four London-based companies with no women board members were registered in Ireland. These companies say they are not bound by London codes of practice, which encourage companies to have at least two female board members. The authors call for this “regulatory gap” to be closed.
Read the report HERE.
Fórsa executive meets for first time
by Bernard Harbor
The Fórsa National Executive Committee met for the first time on 18th January. Writing to the union’s branches afterwards, the three Fórsa joint presidents described it as an historic occasion.
The Fórsa National Executive Committee met for the first time on 18th January. Writing to the union’s branches afterwards, the three Fórsa joint presidents said it was an historic occasion, made possible by several years of hard work by the combined executives and activists of our three former unions.
The three joint presidents – Ann McGee, Niall McGuirk and Pat Fallon – will be in office until new executive officers are elected at Fórsa’s first national conference in May.
They said the new union’s rich diversity was evident at the executive meeting. “We have spent a lot of time and effort to create this exciting new union. Now the real work has started. We look forward to working with every branch and activist to ensure that this force for good is one to be reckoned with. We can confidently anticipate the challenges that lie ahead,” they wrote.
The presidents said the first executive meeting was characterised by a determination to work together to use the union’s collective strength to protect and enhance the interests of every group of members.
“While taking pride in the rich legacies of our three founding unions, we firmly believe that, as the strongest and most influential trade union voice in the civil and public service, voluntary organisations, and the semi-state sector, Fórsa can deliver much more for its members, their communities, and the many thousands of workers who have yet to join our union,” they said.
An oversight committee, consisting of Niall, Ann and Pat, has been established to deal with any concerns or thoughts that members want to share.
Unions slam housing response
by Bernard Harbor
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has criticised the Government’s response to the housing and homelessness crisis, saying it is characterised by “gestures and systemic policy failure.”
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has criticised the Government’s response to the housing and homelessness crisis, saying it is characterised by “gestures and systemic policy failure.” Speaking at a major housing conference last month, ICTU general secretary Patricia King said official action “lacks the urgency and overall coherence that this very real emergency demands.”
Fórsa was well represented at the ICTU event, which featured contributions from all the major political parties as well as housing and homeless agencies.
Patrica said the latest Government initiative – making limited credit available to home buyers, through local authorities – was “no more than a gesture” given the scale of the problem. “The problem is a severe lack of supply of public housing and the fact that the state has abandoned housing policy to developers. Lives are being damaged and destroyed and a whole generation of younger workers now wonders whether they will ever be in position to find suitable, secure and affordable accommodation,” she said.
The conference endorsed plans for a national trade union campaign, which will include lobbying TDs at constituency level. Fórsa intends to coordinate its contribution to the campaign through branch campaign officers. The branch campaign officer role was established last year to coordinate local participation in the union’s national campaigns, and to boost the activist involvement and geographical spread of Fórsa campaigning efforts.
Bigger union, better benefits
Fórsa members can save lot of money with our enhanced package of financial benefits provided or negotiated by the union.
Some of these are free to all Fórsa members. Others are optional benefits, available only to Fórsa members, which can mean savings on insurance, salary protection, additional pension coverage and more.
Fórsa members can save lot of money with our enhanced package of financial benefits provided or negotiated by the union. Some of these are free to all Fórsa members. Others are optional benefits, available only to Fórsa members, which can mean savings on insurance, salary protection, additional pension coverage and more.
Fórsa members are entitled to*
- €5,000 personal accident cover
- €5,000 critical illness or death benefit
- Spouses covered for death benefit too
- €5,000 illness benefit if you’re out of work for more than 12 months
- Evacuation or repatriation expenses up to €250,000 for members deceased, seriously injured or ill abroad
Free Fórsa helplines
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Free legal help in bodily injury cases 1850-77-66-44
- Free 24/7 legal advice helpline 1850-77-66-44
- Free 24/7 confidential counselling helpline 1850-77-66-55
- Free 24/7 domestic assistance helpline 1850-77-66-44
Fórsa members can opt into Fórsa-facilitated financial benefits
- Car insurance
- Home insurance
- Travel insurance
- Additional pension benefits
- Salary protection and life cover.
* Terms, conditions and some restrictions apply.
Get more information from your Fórsa official or representative.
Fórsa members' audio news bulletin
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Fórsa backs minimum wage call
by Bernard Harbor
Fórsa has written to the Low Pay Commission to endorse the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) call for the statutory minimum wage to increase by at least 3%.
Fórsa has written to the Low Pay Commission to endorse the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) call for the statutory minimum wage to increase by at least 3%. The unions made their submission earlier this month, and argued that, over time, the minimum wage should be aligned with the so-called living wage, currently defined by the Government as €10.50 an hour.
Last month, the statutory minimum wage increased by 3.2%, or €0.30, on foot of a majority recommendation from the Low Pay Commission. ICTU says this level of increase needs to happen every year if the Government is to meet its Programme for Government commitment of a €10.50 minimum by 2021.
The rate is currently €9.55 for an experienced adult worker, but it falls to just €6.69 for under-18s. The ICTU submission points out that most people on the minimum wage are women and younger workers, and says a higher rate would help tackle the gender pay gap and encourage labour market participation.
The submission says the relatively small number of people on minimum pay – compared to the total workforce – means an increase would have little impact on employment levels.
IMPACT concludes lobbying
by Niall Shanahan
The final report on lobbying activity by IMPACT trade union was submitted to the regulator in January. Fórsa has informed the regulator that IMPACT has ceased lobbying. Fórsa will be registered as a new lobbying organisation.
The final report on lobbying activity on behalf of IMPACT trade union was submitted to the lobbying regulator on Friday 19th January. The report covers the period from 1st September to 31st December 2017. Any organisation engaged in lobbying activity is required to publish a return no later than 21 days after the end of the relevant reporting period.
IMPACT made eight returns for the most recent reporting period. The PSEU, another of the unions that formed Fórsa, submitted a nil return for the same period. IMPACT made a total of 89 returns since the register went live at the beginning of 2016.
The final lobbying returns submitted by IMPACT cover the following matters:
Additional lobbying, on the establishment of a pension scheme for Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors, was carried out on IMPACT’s behalf by Pat Montague.
Ceased lobbying
Since the new union, Fórsa, was officially formed on January 2nd 2018, its three constituent former unions no longer exist. Fórsa has therefore informed the regulator that IMPACT has ceased lobbying, and Fórsa will be registered as a new lobbying organisation.
Penalties
Failure to submit a return of lobbying activities carried out during period by the deadline is a contravention of the Regulation of Lobbying Act.
New enforcement provisions under the act came into effect on 1st January 2017. These provisions give the Standards in Public Office Commission the authority to investigate and prosecute contraventions of the Act and to levy fixed payment notices for late filing of lobbying returns.
Fórsa members who undertake lobbying activity are not required to make a return unless they are lobbying under instruction from their union, such as in the event of a ‘grassroots’ campaign. All lobbying activity undertaken by Fórsa staff is reportable, apart from activity classified as ‘excepted communications’ under the legislation.
For more details about the legislation and the register, visit lobbying.ie.
The full record of IMPACT's lobbying activity can be reviewed on the IMPACT trade union profile at lobbying.ie.
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Flu jab survey
by Niall Shanahan
In the last edition of the news bulletin we asked Fórsa members “Should healthcare professionals be compelled to have the flu vaccine?”
In the last edition of the Fórsa members' news bulletin we asked Fórsa members “Should healthcare professionals be compelled to have the flu vaccine?” on foot of an announcement by the Minister for Health Simon Harris that he would consider making it obligatory for healthcare professionals.
Almost half of our survey respondents disagreed that health workers should be compelled to get the flu vaccine and voted ‘No’, while 28% voted ‘Yes.’ However, a further 23% of respondents agreed that the vaccine should be mandatory for anyone working with the general public.
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