This general election Fórsa is calling on parties and candidates to support our vision of a society that works for workers.

Friday 29th November, voting day, is an opportunity for public sector workers to demand a society that delivers a decent quality of life for all workers, offers accessible, high quality public services, and which provides a secure future in the face of climate change and advancing technology with regards to AI.

All of these demands are outlined in our general election manifesto which presents policy proposals to strengthen public services and enhance the working lives of our members. You can read it on our election hub here. 

Earlier this year, more than 20,000 of you shared your priorities with us, highlighting the issues you want us to campaign on in the lead up to the election and during the lifetime of the next government.

These priorities are:

• Meaningful pay increases, that go beyond inflation, that reward workers for their commitment to public service.
• The protection of remote and hybrid working arrangements, and a commitment to piloting the four-day week in the public sector, without loss of pay.
• Investment in high quality public services, including community healthcare, publicly funded childcare, and availability of reliable public transport. 

These issues affect all of us, and if addressed, would not only improve the lives of our members, but also strengthen public services and deliver widespread benefits for workers, service-users, and society. 

Members can send a strong message to all political parties by taking part in our email campaign. It takes just ten seconds to tell them what you want. Click here. 
You can also print this poster and use the question on it when election candidates knock on your door, so that you'll know if they support our priorities. Download it here. 

The pivotal role of our members in the education sector is highlighted in our campaigns as we strive for better working conditions and improved training opportunities for SNAs, access to pensions for school secretaries and caretakers, an end to precarious employment in School Completion Programmes, and a job evaluation scheme to technological universities and institutes of technology. 

We are seeking commitment to: 

• Complete the review of the national SNA Contract for the start of the academic year in September 2025.
• Confirm that the new minimum essential qualification for SNAs will be set at QQI Level 6.
• Continue funding the National SNA Training Programme and introduce a funding model for SNAs to access continuing professional development training.
• Provide access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme for School Secretaries and Caretakers.
• Confirm a new employment framework for School Completion Programmes, including the introduction of a single employment structure within ETBs and granting of public service status to all those working within School Completion Programmes.
• Implement a job evaluation scheme for Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology, alongside an appropriate funding model to allow this scheme to be fully realised.