Fórsa has secured a pay offer for Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) staff which is now being put to ballot.

The union has been intensively engaging in a series of meetings with DAA management, the State company responsible for managing Cork and Dublin airports, to seek an appropriate offer for staff.

Fórsa said it sought an appropriate adjustment that reflects progressive pay movement within the aviation sector at this inflationary time.

As a result of the negotiations, the union secured an offer comprising two increases:

• 3.75% pay increase backdated to April 2022 for 12 months, and a further
• 3.5% pay increase from April 2023 for the following 12 months.

The ballot results will be declared by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) on Monday, 12^th December.

Fórsa Assistant General Secretary Eugene Gargan said “The pandemic was the single biggest challenge ever faced by the aviation industry in Ireland and DAA staff helped the airport and airlines through that particularly difficult time.

“We have been clear in voicing our members’ concerns as the value of their pay has reduced because of exceptionally high inflation. Given the rapid resurgence in air travel, and the corresponding sharp increase in workloads, now is the time to address our members’ pay.

“This pay rise shows real acknowledgement of our members, who continue to demonstrate professionalism and flexibility when it comes to making sure DAA is successful and the public has the very best possible travel experience” said Eugene.

Separately, Fórsa officials are also positively engaging with DAA management on the recently presented 2023 Capital Infrastructure Plan, which incorporates the budget for next year and planned organisational structure changes in the coming months.

The union raised concerns on the reliance upon contractors and consultants in the proposed plans, and sought clarity on recruitment and development of our members who are DAA’s directly employed staff.

Engagements around matters relating to performance objectives, line reporting, bonuses and the Task Force are also currently ongoing.

Fórsa cabin crew members at Ryanair will see improvements to the current collective labour agreement the airline has with the union.

Full post-Covid pay restoration measures announced in November, take effect this month, and were brought forward from two scheduled phases in 2023 and 2024.

In addition, gross annual basic pay for junior cabin crew is to be increased as of this month. The new rate includes the four phases of annual basic pay increases that were originally due to be applied each year between April 2023 and April 2026.

The airline anticipates newly hired junior cabin crew should be able to access promotional opportunities after an initial 12 months of service. In addition, Ryanair is to offer the majority of agency crew a direct Ryanair contract.

Fórsa assistant general secretary Eugene Gargan said the improvements to the collective agreement reflect both the significant financial recovery of the airline this year, as well as difficulties with recruitment and retention of cabin crew staff: “There are a number of external factors affecting recruitment and retention, and there’s no disguising the role of the housing crisis in that context.

“Young crew based on Dublin simply can’t afford accommodation here, and we are seeing patterns of staff exit much like those in teaching and in hospitality. The improvements to the existing agreement reflect the need to attract and retain cabin crew staff in the midst of an exceptionally tight labour market, in addition to the problems created by the lack of housing,” he said.

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The Commencement Order for the Sick Leave Act 2022 was signed last week (29th November) by the Tánaiste, and Minister for of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar.

This means a new entitlement to paid sick leave from an employer is scheduled to come into effect in the New Year. Previously, no legal right existed to be paid while someone is on sick leave from work.

Most Fórsa members are already covered by the public service sick pay scheme, while the new scheme will see many Fórsa members working in the private sector afforded greater protection.

A campaign launched by ICTU in 2020, for legislation to make sick pay mandatory, won cross-party support and widespread public support.

ICTU’s head of social policy and employment affairs Laura Bambrick commented: “Up to now, Irish employment law did not require employers to pay their staff when absent due to illness or injury. Sick pay was treated as a perk of the job that employers could decide whether or not to include in a contract of employment.

“As a result, half of the workforce, over one million employees, are not covered for paid sick leave in their terms and conditions. The outbreak of Covid-19 clusters in meat processing plants among low wage essential workers put our failed voluntary approach to sick pay under the spotlight,” she said.

From 1st January 2023, workers will have a right to:

• Paid sick leave for up to three sick days per year, increasing to five days in 2024, seven days in 2025 and 10 days in 2026
• A rate of payment for statutory sick leave of 70% of normal wages to be paid by employers (up to a maximum €110 per day)
• Take a complaint to the WRC where they are not provided with a company sick pay scheme.

To be entitled to paid sick leave under the new scheme, an employee must be working for an employer for at least 13 weeks and will also need to be certified by a GP as unfit to work.

Announcing the implementation of the new scheme, the Tánaiste said it is a valuable public health measure, reducing the risk of workplace accidents and the likelihood of infectious disease transmission in the workplace.

He added that Ireland had been an outlier among developed countries in not providing for statutory paid sick leave: “The Sick Leave Act 2022 changes that and ensures that employees will have an entitlement to paid sick leave. It will be of greatest benefit to lower paid workers, many of whom cannot afford to miss work currently. We do not want people to feel they have to go to work when they are sick, for fear of loss of income," he said.

The legislation sets out the minimum standard that an employer must provide. The Tánaiste said it will not prevent employers having superior sick pay schemes of their own to attract and retain staff, or on foot of an agreement with a trade union.

See also: Everything you need to know about sick pay on the Congress website.

Fórsa has secured further support payments for Coillte workers, in the light of the current cost of living crisis.

Negotiated over several weeks the arrangement will see the implementation of several support measures including:

• A €1,500 lump sum over December and January for those on the lowest wage band
• Extra €1,000 for graduates
• An additional €1,200-€1,800, further to base pay
• No impact on the current collective agreement.

Fórsa official Ian McDonnell thanked Coillte for their positive engagement in the process.

“I’d like to thank management for working with us through this process and am glad that we were able to achieve a good outcome for both parties,” he said.

Ian added that the measures will run in parallel to the current Collective Labour Agreement, which began in January 2021 and runs until the end of 2024.

“The additional supports will run parallel to the Collective Labour Agreement which is currently in place that will deliver separate year on year increases, over the four years that it covers,” he said.

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Fórsa’s 41 search and rescue pilot members at CHC Helicopters are to ballot later this month on the Labour Court’s recommendations on pay, pensions and other key terms. The private helicopter firm provides Ireland’s search and rescue service under a government contract.

The Court’s recommendations provide for pay rises of 10.5% over five years, in addition to increases worth 5% to pensions over the same period. The Court has also recommended monetary terms regarding overtime and “loss of licence.”

Fórsa official Ian McDonnell said the pay, pension and loss of licence issues had been jointly referred to the Labour Court: “Fórsa’s position was that the employer’s response to our pay claim fell short of what was required, as the employer operates as part of a much larger global company, and therefore in a position to meet the cost of the claim.”

He said discussions at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), to address the composition of a new collective agreement at CHC, are ongoing, and confirmed that progress had been made on a number of issues, which was acknowledged by the Court.

Ian said arrangements for balloting the pilot members at CHC are being finalised and will commence shortly.

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New laws governing the practice of tipping to hospitality workers came into force last week (1^st December), providing workers with a legal entitlement to receive tips and gratuities paid in electronic form.

The new the Payment of Wages Act was welcomed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). General secretary Owen Reidy said the legislation will give workers clearer rights around the issue of tips, and give more clarity for customers, particularly those paying electronically.

He added: “This has been an important campaign waged by workers in the sector and unions. The most significant benefit to workers in the hospitality sector, and indeed all sectors of the economy, is the right to collective bargaining.

“We look forward to the transposition of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages, combined with legislation for the report of the high-level working group on collective bargaining, which will address this crucial issue,” he said.  

Clem Shevlin, a spokesperson for ONE Galway, the group that has campaigned on the issue since 2018, said some concerns remain about arrangements for cash tips, but that service charges are returned to workers in full, which has been welcomed by workers and unions alike.

He added: "We'd encourage customers to be vigilant during the Christmas period, to check their bills, and ask their server where the tips and charges go.

“The tipping law shouldn't be the end of improvements for the hospitality sector. For the lowest-paid workers in our economy, there is a lot more which can be done, starting with a living wage,” he said.

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

This week Fórsa bid a very fond farewell to former union president Ann McGee as she finished her work with the union’s strategic organising team to take up a post with Siptu.

Ann’s final day as an organiser with Fórsa was on Monday (5^th December). Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan led the tributes to Ann, commending her “unique and extraordinary contribution to the development of Fórsa.”

Kevin added: “Since the creation of Fórsa Ann has served as joint president, and as president from May 2018. She became a member of the union staff, working as an organiser, in July 2021.

“On behalf of Fórsa I want to wish Ann every success in her new role, and I look forward to a continued excellent working relationship with her.”

NEC member Jean Taylor paid tribute to “Our fabulous colleague, former president, social protection employee and all-round fabulous person.”

Jean said Ann would be deeply missed by her former colleagues: “Fórsa’s loss is Siptu’s gain,” she said.

Fórsa’s director of strategic organising Orlagh Fawl said Ann’s main focus throughout her trade union career has been on the union’s members: “As president Ann made it her business to meet every union branch and to engage directly with union members as much as possible. Her approach as an organiser has been similarly focused on members’ needs.

“Ann is driven by a strong motivation to improve the working lives of members, and I know she will carry that drive and passion into her new role in Siptu. Above all, she has been a great friend to all who knew her in Fórsa, and we will miss her,” she said.

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

Fórsa is supporting a Bill calling for the introduction of a reproductive health leave scheme to support members managing early pregnancy loss, fertility treatments and other reproductive health related matters.

If enacted, the Reproductive Health Leave Bill would provide an entitlement to reproductive leave of up to 20 days for women who suffer an early miscarriage, and up to 10 days leave for any employee to take time off work for reproductive health reasons.

Fórsa national secretary and equality officer Ashley Connolly said that for far too long, both women and men have had to remain silent in their workplaces about the grief of pregnancy loss or reproductive health matters.

“We know our members are using sick leave and annual leave to try to manage reproductive health issues, causing unnecessary stress and anxiety.

"This is a workplace issue, and the legislation would afford empathy and dignity to those going through this experience, supporting workers when they need it the most,” she said.

Last May, delegates at Fórsa’s national conference unanimously backed a motion in support of reproductive health leave.

While there were early signs from Government that they would support the scheme, no further progress has been made, despite the ongoing efforts of Senator Marie Sherlock.

The Labour Party is now calling for an amendment to the Government’s Work Life Balance Bill to introduce this much-needed measure as a matter of urgency and has established a petition to show support for the change in statute. 

Ashley called on government to fast track this vital piece of legislation to bring fairness to the workplace for all workers.

“It is crucially important to provide leave when it matters most and change how we think about reproductive healthcare in Ireland,” she said.

To learn more about the Labour Party’s work on this matter, click here.

Fórsa is calling on branches to support the union’s annual toy appeal for Temple Street Children’s Hospital, which is located next to the union’s head office in Dublin.

It’s a proud Fórsa tradition to collect items for this worthy cause and donate them to Nerney’s Court’s nearest neighbours, making a real difference to children’s lives at this special time of year.

You can donate to the Fórsa collection by posting a suitable unwrapped new toy to the following address: Fórsa Toy Appeal, Fórsa Trade Union, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1. Alternatively, you can drop your contribution into the print room of Nerney’s Court, behind reception.

In previous years, Smyth’s Toys and One 4 All vouchers proved popular with both donors and the hospital, and the Children’s Health Foundation is especially anxious to encourage vouchers once again.

All presents must arrive on or before this next Friday afternoon (16^th December), and this year’s organisers have asked people to give special consideration to teenagers when donating.

For a list of suitable gifts, click here. 

If you have any questions, contact kdonoghue@forsa.ie or jcooper@forsa.ie.

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 members can tune in to a free health insurance webinar next Tuesday, hosted by Cornmarket exclusively for the union.

The final session of the year will take place at noon on Tursday 13^th December.

The online session will offer guidance on all aspects of health insurance and advise how you can save money on your plan. Ireland’s leading health insurance guru Dermot Goode will also be on hand to offer advice and answer your questions.

Registration for the event is free and can be accessed HERE.

To find our more information on Cornmarket and the services they provide, click HERE. 

It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

ICTU president and Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan led the trade union delegation at Monday’s meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF), the first meeting of its kind to take place since September’s Budget.

The LEEF meets approximately four times a year and brings together senior Government, trade union and employer representatives to discuss economic, employment and labour market issues.

The parties met on Monday as reports emerged that corporate tax receipts for the year are now likely to surpass the Department of Finance’s own forecasts, and hit a record €23 billion for 2022.

The LEEF was chaired on Monday by outgoing Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar was also present, while transport Minister Eamon Ryan acknowledged that union representations at the September meeting of the LEEF had a significant influence on the Government’s budgetary approach this year.

Kevin said the meeting provided an opportunity to press the case for deepening social dialogue: “Looking ahead to 2023, it’s clear that there will be considerable challenges.

“Unions and employers have separately made the case for deeper social dialogue indeed a new social compact, in order to better equip ourselves for the challenges the country is facing.

“Not least of these is the continuing housing crisis, which is having a tangible, and very destructive, knock-on effect on recruitment in education, health and across the private sector.

“We also face added pressures on health services, we need to respond effectively on climate measures, and there’s continuing uncertainty because of the situation in Ukraine.

“We made the case to the Government this week that those challenges demand a shared idea of what policies are necessary to meet them, and that closer cooperation would lead to more successful outcomes,” he said.

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

Fórsa has donated over half a million euros to charities and organisations across the globe this year.

Through members' support, Fórsa has been able to provide life-changing aid, funding, and support to those who need it most.

We want to thank everyone who has put time, effort and hard work into the fundraising that has taken place. Here’s a look at some of the charities and organisations that Fórsa and its members have supported through the year:

• Lajee to Ireland Cultural Tour 2022
• Sligo Samaritans
• Earth's Edge Kilimanjaro Fundraiser 2022
• Cost of Living Coalition Donation
• Irelanders Club
• Migrants Rights Centre
• Migrant Rights

The biggest contribution our members and branches made this year was to the Fórsa Ukraine appeal. As trade union members we know the value and importance of meaningful solidarity. The union came together in response to the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and in their time of need raised €500,000, to be split equally between the Irish Red Cross and a special trade union solidarity fund.

Fórsa’s climbers took on a charity climb of Kilimanjaro in August this year, after two postponements and three years of organising. The team managed to raise an incredible €20,000 which was given to the Irish Hospice Foundation and the Kilimanjaro Porter’s Assistance Project.

As 2022 draws to a close keep a lookout on our socials for more donation announcements and the Toys for Temple Street campaign.

Fórsa President Michael Smyth said the union is extremely grateful to branches for their wonderful contributions and praised union members for their generosity.

Fórsa has welcomed the launch of a campaign calling for the end of Israeli apartheid against Palestine.

The campaign, organised by a coalition made up of sixteen civil society organisations, including the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), has committed to working collaboratively to end Israeli apartheid against Palestinians.

The group has pledged to engage with Irish public and political representatives regarding the atrocities in Palestine, and to build political support for effective measures by Ireland and the international community to condemn Israel’s actions, to end the crime of apartheid against Palestinians.

Fórsa officials Denis Keane welcomed the launch of the campaign, noting the work Fórsa continues to do to help with the injustices in Palestine:

“We’d like to welcome the establishment of the Irish anti–apartheid campaign for Palestine. We see this as a continuation of our work and pledge to help and work alongside our sister trade unions and ICTU in this campaign.

“Fórsa continues to work in groups such as the Trade Union Friends of Palestine and the European Trade Union Network for Justice in Palestine and will continue to support the people of Palestine through these groups.” he said.

The launch of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Coalition, coincided with the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The Palestinian Human Rights Organisations Council (PHROC) welcomed the campaign calling for a ‘world-wide movement’ to challenge these injustices:

“Israel has created a regime of institutionalised racial discrimination against the Palestinian people between the river Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea. It is a regime of apartheid the purpose of which is to deny the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, including millions of Palestinian refugees.

"Its aim is to fragment and isolate us, to imprison us in bantustan-like enclaves, to steal our wealth, to remove us from our homeland, and to deny our right to self-determination. A new world-wide movement is emerging to challenge these injustices. We congratulate Ireland for, once again, being at the forefront of the movement to end apartheid as it has done in the past.”

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. 

Former Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) official, Esther Lynch has been elected general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

The ETUC represents 45 million members from 93 trade union organisations in 41 European countries, speaking with a single voice on behalf of European workers to have a stronger say in EU decision-making.

Esther has served as the ETUC’s deputy general secretary since 2019, following four years as confederal secretary, and served as ICTU’s Legislation and Social Affairs officer for a number of years prior to her move to Europe. As a staff member of ICTU Esther was also a member of Fórsa, and still proudly refers to Fórsa as her union.

ICTU president and Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said the ETUC will benefit from Esther’s considerable policy experience: “Esther is a passionate trade unionist, a person of enormous empathy and understanding when it comes to workers’ concerns, and has a formidable skill and intellect for good policy development.

“Her legacy in Ireland includes considerable work on legislation to protect whistle-blowers, and legislation to create a transparent register of lobbyists. The ETUC is in very good hands, and I wish Esther every success in her new role,” he said.

ICTU General Secretary, Owen Reidy added: “The trade union movement in Europe has a formidable champion of workers’ rights at the helm, and it’s a proud moment for the Irish trade union movement.

“Now, more than ever, we need strong voices speaking on behalf of and protecting the rights of European workers in EU decision-making. I wish Esther well as she takes on her new responsibilities and she has ICTU’s full support,” he said.

Elected as a shop steward in the 1980s, Esther developed extensive trade union experience at Irish, European, and international levels. Her work with ICTU included negotiations on Ireland’s national social partner agreements.

Esther’s responsibilities in her new post include social dialogue, collective bargaining and wage policy, trade union rights, gender equality and Brexit.

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

Castlebar, County Mayo has emerged as the best place to work from home in Ireland, followed closely by Leixlip (Co Kildare) Navan (Co Meath) Galway and Longford.

The study, by consumer price comparison website Switcher.ie, considered a number of factors in identifying the best locations for remote work, including broadband speeds, housing costs, green spaces and schools. 

The Government agreed last month to scrap its draft ‘Right to Request Remote Working’ Bill - described as “fatally flawed” by Fórsa and ICTU and instead deliver the new Bill, currently making its way through the Oireachtas.

ICTU’s head of social policy and employment affairs Laura Bambrick says the new Work Life Balance Bill is expected to bring Ireland in line with other European countries’ remote work policies.

She added: “The Bill passed through the Dáil late on Wednesday night (7^th December) and will now proceed to the Seanad for debate. However, the Seanad goes into its Christmas recess next week, so the Bill is not now expected to be passed into law before the end of the year as planned.”

The new Work Life Balance Bill, which will bring Ireland in line with other European countries’ remote work policies, is expected by the end of the year.

A survey of 8,400 workers published by NUIG in April  revealed that of those who could work remotely, 52% were currently working hybrid, 40% fully remotely, and only 8% were fully on-site. 

The remaining towns in the remote working top ten, identified by the Switcher.ie study, were Gorey (Co Wexford), Clonmel (Co Tipperary), Mallow (Co Cork), Portmarnock (Dublin) and Sligo.

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The results of Ireland’s first coordinated reduced worktime trial have been a resounding success, with 100% of employees who participated in the four-day-week pilot indicating a preference for a reduced work schedule.

Backed by Fórsa and carried out in partnership by Four-Day Week Ireland, University College Dublin (UCD), and Boston College, the project examined the financial, social, and environmental impact of a four-day working week on businesses and employees in Ireland.

General Secretary of Fórsa, Kevin Callinan welcomed the research and highlighted the potential for a better future for workers:

“The four-day-week is an example of how a concept that many have questioned, can genuinely improve the future for workers. The research presented today highlights the need for a more balanced work-life schedule.

“In today’s working world there’s a mismatch between the amount of time we spend working and the time we spend with our families and friends. The four-day week can be at the forefront of a new age of work, providing transformative social benefits without losing pay or productivity,”

Kevin also noted the opportunity to see similar trials introduced across the public sector:

“Previously, Fórsa engaged with Minister Michael McGrath and other Government officials urging them to take part in these trials.

“With a 100% success rate among employees and other positive metrics shown, there is no reason why a similar trail cannot be tested among certain areas of the public sector.”

 Research findings

Some of the key company findings from the research included:

• Four organisations tracked company industry-specific productivity metrics, and all observed improvements
• Seven companies provided data on revenue. Six out of seven companies reported their monthly revenue growth, with one seeing a decline
• Nine of the12 companies are committed to continuing with the four-day-week schedule. The other three are also planning to continue but have not committed to continuing long-term yet
• Both companies that tracked energy usage found reductions.

The research also looked at the impact the four-day week had on employees and found significant improvements in life satisfaction and a range of wellbeing outcomes.

Some of the key employee findings included:

• 100% of employees would like to continue a reduced work schedule
• There were significant improvements across a wide range of well-being metrics, including positive affect, work-family and work-life balance, and several domains of life satisfaction
• Stress, burnout, fatigue, and work-family conflict significantly declined
• Average sleep time increased from 7.02 hours a night to 7.72 hours
• Time doing hobbies (including exercise) grew by 36 minutes a week on average
• There was an increase across three forms of pro-environmental behaviour: activities (recycling, buying eco-friendly, walking & cycling over driving), education (encouraging others and educating oneself about the environment) and volunteering
• The trial was particularly successful for women. They reported a significantly greater improvement in life satisfaction, had larger gains in sleep time, and reported feeling more secure in their employment.

Chair of Four-Day Week Ireland and head of campaigns at Fórsa, Kevin Donoghue said that the report shows that the benefits of a reduced working week can be felt across all stakeholder groups.

“We are glad to be able to share the success of this trial through the launch of the report this morning and look forward to working towards making the four-day week the norm in Irish society,” he said.

You can read the full report and its findings here.