We are live and on the air
The Fórsa website is now live. We’re now entering the third phase of construction, so we still have some pages left to build.
The priority in this phase was to get our news, conference information and divisional identities up and running ahead of conference season, which got underway last week for our Education division.
The site went live on Good Friday, click HERE or on the image above to pay a visit.
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Long term sick improvements won
by Bernard Harbor
The critical illness protocol (CIP), which governs public service arrangements for those on long-term sick leave, has been improved to allow more managerial discretion about what constitutes a ‘critical illness’ in cases where the precise medical criteria are not met.
The critical illness protocol (CIP), which governs public service arrangements for those on long-term sick leave, has been improved to allow more managerial discretion about what constitutes a ‘critical illness’ in cases where the precise medical criteria are not met.
New ‘CIP managerial discretion guidelines,’ negotiated with Fórsa and other unions, make it clear that managers have the flexibility to accept illnesses as ‘critical’ even if they have not quite met the threshold on the basis of medical certification.
An appeals mechanism against unfavourable management decisions, with access to third party adjudication, has also been agreed.
The CIP arrangements for the ‘protective year’ have also been improved. The ‘protective year’ allows staff who return to work following a critical illness to avail of remaining CIP leave for subsequent non-critical illnesses or injuries within one year of their first date of absence.
This protective year period will now begin on the date of return, which means more support for those returning from a serious illness who then suffer a routine health problem in the following 12 months.
The changes, which are effective from 31st March 2018, are now rolling out in the civil service and will then extend to other parts of the public service, including non-commercial semi-state organisations.
Fórsa is still in discussions about the calculation of certain types of sick leave in the one year/four year look back periods, and on the application of temporary rehabilitation remuneration (TRR). Union officials think these issues are likely to be referred to the Labour Court, due to the absence of agreement.
The CIP provisions of the sick leave scheme retain the original six months on full pay and six months on half pay arrangements.
Pay equity demanded for all grades
by Bernard Harbor
Public service union leaders will meet senior officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DEPR) on 27th April to open discussions on remaining pay equity issues for ‘new entrants’.
Public service union leaders will meet senior officials from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DEPR) on 27th April to open discussions on remaining pay equity issues for ‘new entrants’.
The invitation to ICTU’s Public Services Committee arrived before the problem was aired at education union conferences last week. Speaking at Fórsa’s Education Division conference, deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan called for a speedy resolution to the issue – but warned that clerical officers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and other lower-paid grades must not lose out.
The union will press for pay scales to be shortened as quickly as possible for staff who joined the public service after January 2011. Under discriminatory measures announced by the then-Government in December 2010, it currently takes these new entrants two years longer than their colleagues to reach the top of their pay scales.
ICTU’s Public Services Committee, which represents almost all unions in the sector, secured agreement for new talks last month under a clause in the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA), which allows for an “examination” of the new entrants’ pay issue.
Speaking at Fórsa’s Education Division conference in Dublin, Kevin Callinan said SNAs were proportionately the largest group of new entrants in the public service, as more than a third of them had been hired since the start of 2011.
“There are many ways to define pay equity, and Fórsa is determined that lower-paid staff are not left behind in this debate. SNAs begin work earning less than two-thirds the pay of a classroom colleague hired on the same day. Their pay is linked to the civil and public service clerical officer, and Fórsa represents over 30,000 public servants on similar pay rates or less.
“Pay equity is a priority for all trade unions, but we believe pay policy must also encompass the issue of lower-paid groups like SNAs and civil and public service clerical officers,” he said.
In initial discussions last October, DPER confirmed that 53,000 workers had been hired since lower new entrant scales were imposed in January 2011. Management also acknowledged that unions had opposed the new scales, and had used the first opportunity available – the Haddington Road Agreement – to equalise the maximum points of the scales.
The main outstanding issue is the existence of two additional scale points for staff employed since 2011. That’s why Fórsa wants the length of these scales reduced by two points as quickly as possible.
Posted workers to get insurance boost
by Bernard Harbor
Fórsa has won a Government commitment to legislate to ensure that public servants working overseas won’t have ‘loadings’ applied to their health insurance policies, so long as they renew their insurance within nine months of returning to Ireland.
Fórsa has won a Government commitment to legislate to ensure that public servants working overseas won’t have ‘loadings’ applied to their health insurance policies, so long as they renew their insurance within nine months of returning to Ireland.
In a letter to union official Billy Hannigan, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said new regulations would also cover breaks in insurance for such staff while they are resident in Ireland, and the period over which any loadings would be payable.
Fórsa members in Revenue and the departments of foreign affairs, agriculture, business and enterprise, and elsewhere will likely benefit from the changes, which are expected to be introduced by statutory instrument in the third quarter of this year.
Billy said this issue was of particular importance to members posted abroad. “The revised arrangements will go a very long way to addressing our concerns. We will need to await the adoption of the necessary statutory instrument, but I am reasonably satisfied that this issue can now be regarded as solved,” he said.
Read the letter from An Tánaiste here.
Strong Fórsa presence at housing rally
by Niall Shanahan
Last Saturday’s housing rally saw a very strong Fórsa presence as community organisations, homeless services organisations and trade unions took part in the the National Homeless and Housing Coalition’s rally in Dublin.
Last Saturday’s housing rally saw a very strong Fórsa presence as community organisations, homeless services organisations and trade unions took part in the the National Homeless and Housing Coalition’s #April7th rally.
Up to 10,000 people are reported to have taken part in Saturday’s rally. Participants marched from the Garden of Remembrance to Custom House Quay.
Kevin Callinan, Forsa’s deputy general secretary and vice president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, addressed the rally. He described the latest homelessness figures as a “shame and a blight on our society.” February’s figures show almost 10,000 individuals are homeless, of whom 3,755 are children.
Kevin added, “Where stands the Republic if they can’t vindicate this basic right. What is liberty without social solidarity and equality? We need a national policy once and for all to make the country’s national resources work for the people.”
He said trade unions are to mobilise to press for the building of 10,000 public homes every year for the next five years.
Colours
Fórsa lead organiser Joe O’Connor estimated there were about 150 Fórsa supporters taking part in the rally.
“We had fantastic support from Fórsa members who travelled from all over the country to attend the rally. From Cork, Kerry, Galway and Donegal, and all points in between, and with our Fórsa colours making their first appearance at a rally of this kind.
“We had an important message to deliver to our Government last Saturday. We are witnesses to the worst housing crisis this country has seen in a century.
“Future generations may look back and wonder why it took so long for Irish society to demand action. We must ensure they don’t suffer the consequences of failing to act. We need to reverse the continuing rise in homelessness we are currently witnessing,” he said.
Gearing up for conference charity cycle
by Diarmaid Mac a Bhaird & Niall Shanahan
Michael Scully will be the first of many Fòrsa activists donning his cycling gear and pushing out the hard miles to conference this season, and he's looking for your support as he sets off to Galway this week.
Meanwhile, Éamonn Donnelly and Dessie Robinson are forming a bunch of willing enthusiasts to cycle from Limerick to Killarney for Fórsa's national conference in May.
Cycling fundraiser fever has taken hold in Fórsa.
Michael Scully will be the first of many Fòrsa activists donning his cycling gear and pushing out the hard miles to conference as he prepares himself to cycle solo from Portlaoise to Galway (160km) for the Services and Enterprises conference in Galway on Thursday.
Michael will be raising funds for the Galway Simon Community. If your branch would like to support Micheal this week by making a donation, a collection of branch donations will take place at this week's conference.
Pedal up!
And if you're in any way attracted to joining the peloton, now is the time to don your Lycra and dig out the bicycle clips, because it's time to sign up for the Fórsa conference cycle and help raise much-needed funds for charity.
The initiative has been organised by Fórsa head of health Éamonn Donnelly and assistant general secretary Dessie Robinson – both formerly of IMPACT – for the last ten years. In that time it’s raised €130,000 for small charities based in communities throughout the country.
It involves conference delegates and their supporters cycling some or all of the route between Limerick and the Fórsa national conference in Killarney next month.
Éamonn says it’s a fun event. “It’s about having a great time while raising money for smaller local charities that don’t have large budgets to back the important work they do. In the past we’ve helped organisations supporting mental health, suicide prevention, and cancer support,” he said.
Among the charities the bike-ride will raise money for SOS (suicide or survive), the Dublin-based provider of supports to struggling young people. It will also support charities in Limerick and Kerry – the start and end of the effort.
Reassuringly, Dessie says you don’t need to be Tour de France ready to take part. “We want to encourage as many members and branches of the union to take part, whether that means cycling 10km, 20km or even one km, the main thing is to get involved,” he says.
Éamonn appealed for branches to get behind members representing them, and help them to raise money and prepare for the event itself. “We are hoping to have representatives from as many branches and divisions as possible and I want to encourage anyone considering taking part to get involved in the event. It’s a great day and it’s fantastic to be able to raise money for these wonderful charities.”
If you want more information – or if you’re ready to get involved – send your details HERE.
Precarious work on rise
by Diarmaid Mac a Bhaird
Precarious work in the ‘gig economy’ is on the rise in Ireland and the UK, and poses significant challenges for policy makers and trade unions.
Precarious work in the ‘gig economy’ is on the rise in Ireland and the UK, and poses significant challenges for policy makers and trade unions, according to Fórsa head of communications Bernard Harbor. His comments came in response to the publication of Shifting the risk, a report into precarious work by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Britain’s equivalent of ICTU.
The report says basic employment rights are being breached on a huge scale in Britain, and that enforcement mechanisms are failing UK workers. It outlines how enforcement mechanisms could be strengthened “in a climate where organisations are proactively taking steps to transfer their employment law and tax obligations to other parties.”
Gig economy and other precarious workers lose protections because they are defined as contractors rather than workers or employees. As a result they can effectively be paid below the legal minimum or be unfairly dismissed. And they can be denied benefits like holiday pay and sick leave.
An ICTU study published at the end of last year revealed a dramatic 34% rise in part-time work and self-employment, which unions say is “indicative of significant growth in bogus or false self-employment.” The report found that, while more prevalent in the private sector, precarious work had spread to health, education and public administration.
The TUC estimates that five million UK workers are unable to enforce their basic rights. It says that extending joint liability is the only way to ensure workers are able to seek compensation if their legal rights are breached.
“Some of the report’s recommendations about what can be done to address the difficulties workers face having their rights enforced could be relevant in Ireland. Basic employment rights are being violated and parent companies need to be held accountable for their responsibilities to everyone working for them,” said Harbor.
Fórsa audio bulletin episode 5
by Hazel Gavigan (audio editor)
We take a look at last week's education division conference as well as the main stories in the current edition of the news bulletin. Presented by Hazel Gavigan and Niall Shanahan.
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Blog: Challenging negative perceptions of immigration
by Andy Pike
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The recent publication of Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission research into public attitudes towards immigration and immigrants from different ethnic backgrounds has highlighted the extent to which the Government has ignored the need to build and foster an inclusive society.
The research shows how attitudes towards immigrants changed once the recession commenced. According to the Economic and Social Research Institute (ERSI), which carried out the research, public perceptions of immigration and immigrants were largely positive from 2002 to 2006.
This changed from 2008 onwards with perceptions being very negative in 2010 and then improving slowly as the economy recovered. This finding demonstrates a correlation between attitudes towards immigration and the state of the economy.
As the Irish economy continues to grow and with employment levels rising, attitudes to immigration appear to be more positive. But we should be deeply concerned that the research highlights differing attitudes towards immigration from specific racial and ethnic groups.
The recent publication of Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission research into public attitudes towards immigration and immigrants from different ethnic backgrounds has highlighted the extent to which the Government has ignored the need to build and foster an inclusive society.
The research shows how attitudes towards immigrants changed once the recession commenced. According to the Economic and Social Research Institute (ERSI), which carried out the research, public perceptions of immigration and immigrants were largely positive from 2002 to 2006.
This changed from 2008 onwards with perceptions being very negative in 2010 and then improving slowly as the economy recovered. This finding demonstrates a correlation between attitudes towards immigration and the state of the economy.
As the Irish economy continues to grow and with employment levels rising, attitudes to immigration appear to be more positive. But we should be deeply concerned that the research highlights differing attitudes towards immigration from specific racial and ethnic groups.
Almost 60% of Irish-born people reported they would allow many or some immigrants from members of the same ethnic group as most Irish people to come to Ireland. But the equivalent figures for Muslim and Roma migrants were 41% per cent and 25% respectively.
“The international literature suggests there is a greater perception of cultural threat around Muslim immigration than to immigrants of the same ethnic group. Resistance to Roma migration reflects a widespread prejudice against this group across Europe. Support for Muslim and Roma immigration is lower in Ireland than the average for the ten Western European countries presented,” it says.
In terms of beliefs about race and ethnicity, just under half of adults born in Ireland believe some cultures to be superior to others, while 45% say that some races and ethnic groups are born harder working. A much lower proportion, 17%, believe that some races or ethnic groups were born less intelligent.
These findings highlight the need to intensify efforts to create an inclusive and integrated society where such racial and ethnic stereotyping can be successfully challenged.
Government policy on asylum enacted through the State Reception and Integration Agency on issues such as direct provision only re-enforce these negative stereotypes, with migrants being located in remote rural areas without proper access to education or employment.
The public perception of migrant asylum seekers is, without doubt, shaped by the restrictions placed on their ability to work and contribute to society.
Recent changes on foot of a Supreme Court ruling have only compounded the problem. In February, asylum seekers were finally given the right to seek employment. But they have to apply for an employment permit from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation under the Employment Permits Act 2003.
The Irish Times recently reported that the scheme also requires them to pay between €500 to €1,000 for a six- to 12-month employment permit. Asylum seekers living in direct provision currently have a weekly allowance of €21.60 and can buy food using a recently introduced points system.
Applicants must find a job that pays a starting salary of at least €30,000 per annum, while their prospective employer must show they were unable to find a suitable Irish or EU citizen to fill the position. Asylum seekers will also be unable to apply for a job in more than 60 different areas including positions in hospitality, healthcare, social work, childcare, general care services, marketing, sales, administration, textiles, printing, housekeeping, food and construction.
Such provisions continue the effective bar on any asylum seeker being able to play a full role in society and the economy. Whilst an asylum seeker is now legally allowed to work, the Government conditions imposed effectively exclude the vast majority. This, in turn, reinforces the stereotypical view of Muslim asylum seekers allegedly sponging from the State.
The IHREC research makes clear that there is now a real need to challenge such attitudes, and to ensure that much more is done to highlight the significant contribution made by immigrants, including Muslims, to Irish society.
One easy step the Government could take would be to enable those asylum seekers in direct provision to access the labour market without restrictions, and to provide them with the same statutory employment protections as enjoyed by other workers.
Whilst the Irish Government seeks to defend the principle of free movement of people within the EU there is much more that should be done to emphasise the economic benefits of migration regardless of ethnic origin.
Andy Pike is head of division for Fórsa's Civil Service division.
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