Delegates at last week’s Civil Service Divisional Conference voted unanimously to adopt a new divisional strategy, which sets out the divisional priorities for the next two years.

Developed with the pillars of Fórsa’s Strategic Plan 2021-2025 at its core, the Civil Service Divisional Executive Committee developed ‘Reclaiming our Place’ for the period 2023 to 2025.

The member focused strategy is heavily invested in increasing recruitment of new members, organising of members around workplace issues, clear industrial relations targets for achievement, better channels of communication to members, strengthening member participation, and best use of available resources.

Fórsa Deputy General secretary and Head of Civil Service Éamonn Donnelly explained that the title of the strategy spotlights the principal challenge ahead for the Division of behalf of its members.

“Despite recovery from the economic crash and austerity measures, Civil Service employers have continued to operate as if such measures remained in place. This has led to serious deficits in consulting and negotiating with unions on change implementation and a deterioration in the operation of any meaningful industrial relations process,” he said.

Éamonn encouraged members to get behind the strategy and deploy it in their union work.

“If we pursue this with determination and unity of purpose, we can indeed enhance the quality of working life of workers and can secure better and modern policies which suit the needs of modern society, particularly in the context of working time, working patterns and work-life balance and in the area of equality and diversity. We can also dismantle any move to further the agenda of privatisation and outsourcing which has crept into the Civil Service,” he said.

‘Reclaiming our Place’ can be accessed here.

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