The civil service group of unions is preparing a referral back to the Civil Service Arbitration Board regarding flexitime accrual for blended workers.

The unions had previously sought the reintroduction of full flexitime accrual for blended workers but were prepared to contemplate the reintroduction on a pilot basis initially. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) disagreed however, seeking instead to have a number of pilots running concurrently to allow for better outcome measurement.

The Arbitration Board ruled that two pilots could be used to measure the impact of full versus limited flexitime accrual, but when the pilot scheme evaluation was published, DPER did not endorse it as the model to be used across the civil service.

Despite noting no operational issues stemming from areas that piloted full flexitime accrual, DPER chose to instead to allow Departments to choose between full and partial flexitime accrual for their staff, in a decision described as “nonsense” by Fórsa official Seán Carabini. 

“DPER sought an expanded pilot phase to allow them to have better data in order to better inform their final decision. They got that. And they clearly got the data they needed because their evaluation of the pilot phases did not reference any difficulties encountered from Departments that allowed full flexitime accrual. They are duty bound to endorse this. They got what they wanted on the shape of the pilot,” he explained. 

On foot of this, Fórsa, alongside other civil service unions are now preparing a submission to the Arbitration Board.

“This is an insult to the arbitration process, not to then make a selection based on their published evaluation. We are therefore preparing a submission to the Arbitration Board seeking their intervention to compel DPER to see the process through,” said Seán.

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

Ahead of the ballot on the new Public Sector Pay Agreement 2024-2026 information meetings are now underway. You can find a list of upcoming information meetings here. In addition to workplace meetings, online sessions are also taking place. 

Fórsa's Communications Unit has prepared a number of resources for union members and activists. The aim of these resources is to help you inform yourself about the agreement before you cast your vote.

You can access a detailed FAQ here. 

There is a poster you can download, distribute or display in your workplace here, and a more detailed flyer for the same purpose is available here. These are A4 formats so you can easily print them on workplace printers. 

We have also produced a 'Plain English' Guide to the Agreement, which you can download here. For more information on Plain English visit the website of the National Adult Literacy Service www.nala.ie.

Voting in the Fórsa ballot will begin on Monday 19th February and will close at 12pm on Friday 15th March. All Fórsa members working in the civil and public service, and non-commercial state agencies can vote. To vote in this online ballot you will receive an email with a unique voter code and a link to our secure voting platform. It can only be used once.

Now, it's up to you – vote yes if you want the proposed pay increases or vote no if you believe we should go back to the drawing board.

All of the resources are also available here: https://www.forsa.ie/resources-public-sector-pay-ballot/ 

With AGM season ratcheting up a gear and with the looming deadline for National Conference motions, the Skills Academy would like to remind you of its Lunch and Learn recording from January 2023 which provides a useful overview of how to craft motions and navigate the submissi­­­on process. It is available here.

“An important instrument in the toolkit of union democracy is the accurate use of motions which can be both progressive and significant in outcome,” commented Fiona Dunne, Director of Membership Training and Development. 

“The first step in the motion process is to decide what needs to be achieved, who can help deliver it and what might be the likely impact if this change is implemented. The session has been shared online, so take some time to watch it.” she continued.

The Lunch and Learn series are an ongoing webinar programme hosted by the Fórsa Skills Academy which aims to give members the knowledge to support them as a union member or representative. It’s a supplement to the broader range of training programmes offered by the union.  

“A playlist of previous virtual sessions can be accessed on YouTube. As well as tackling the minutia of union democracy, other topics have included improving your CV and nailing job interviews, public speaking, menopause health and digital trade unionism,” said Fiona.

As always if you have any specific training requirements for you, your colleagues, workplace, or branch, please don’t hesitate to contact the union at skillsacademy@forsa.ie. Check out the Skills Academy channel here.

UPCOMING TRAINING FROM FÓRSA SKILLS ACADEMY

February 

You still have time to register NOW for Foundational Workplace Representatives Training in Sligo – three consecutive days – Tuesday 27^th – Thursday 29^th February.  This is aimed at new Workplace Representatives! 

The next Lunch and Learn Session on Friday, 23^rd February will be on the topic of Job Evaluation schemes. You can register here. 

March

Expanded Workplace Reps Training – Wednesday 6^th – Thursday 7^th March – Cork.

The link to register for Fórsa 101 on Wednesday 13^th March, will be sent out next week to Training Officers/Secretaries and Chairs to circulate. This is an online information session for all new members.

Foundational Workplace Reps Training – Tuesday 26^th – Thursday 28^th March – South East (Wexford)

Branch Chairs and Secretaries Training – Tuesday 26^th March – Dublin

Branch Treasurers Training – Thursday 28^th March – Dublin

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

Fórsa is to commence a ballot on the new public sector pay deal later this month. If the deal is ratified, the new pay terms will affect most members of the union, as it will apply to workers employed directly by the State in public services and state agencies.

The union’s National Executive Committee (NEC), made up of elected members of Fórsa from the union’s various sectoral divisions, met last week and unanimously recommended acceptance of the terms of the deal in the forthcoming ballot.

The union is now making arrangements for a series of member information meetings in advance of the ballot, which is set to commence on 19^th February.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said union members ultimately decide whether to back the new agreement through the national ballot: “Fórsa is a member-led organisation and, in all matters of policy, it is the members who have the last word.

“The union’s executive backed the terms of the deal, and its recommendation is based on the understanding that the pay terms represent the absolute maximum achievable through negotiations at this time, and that it is the outcome of a challenging negotiations process,” he said.

The previous public service pay agreement, Building Momentum, expired on 31^st December 2023. The proposed new deal covers the period from 1st January 2024 to 30th June 2026.

The 19 unions affiliated to the Public Services Committee (PSC) of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), have until Monday 25^th March to complete ballots of their members. If the deal is ratified by an aggregate ballot of the PSC it would provide the following pay terms:

2024

• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 2.25% or €1,125, whichever is greater, from 1st January 2024
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% on 1st June 2024
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1st October 2024.

2025

• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 2% or €1,000, whichever is greater, on 1st March 2025
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% on 1st August 2025
• The first phase of local bargaining of 1% on 1^st September 20225

2026

• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500, whichever is greater, on 1st February 2026
• A general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% on 1st June 2026.

The pay proposals are estimated to be worth up to 17.3% for lower paid workers. This is because the flat-rate elements of the pay deal are worth more to public servants earning below €50k per annum. The benefit is greater for incomes below this level of salary.

If the proposed agreement is accepted, unions will not be able to lodge any ‘cost-increasing’ claims for improvements in pay or conditions during the lifetime of the agreement. However, there are specific provisions for local bargaining, which would allow trade unions to negotiate up to an additional 3% of pay costs, inclusive of allowances, for particular grades, groups or categories of employee.

For more information about the new agreement please visit our dedicated ballot hub.

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

Fórsa will be participating in a national demonstration calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, next Saturday 17^th February, which is set to be a Global Day of Action. The demonstration, organised by the Irish Palestine Solidarity Committee, will take place in Dublin, assembling at the Garden of Remembrance at 1pm.

Despite talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement in recent days the hostilities have continued. Over 27,000 thousand people have now been killed with many thousands more missing or injured.

Fórsa will be participating in the march and will be assembling outside the Hugh Lane Gallery from 1pm to distribute flags and banners for the march. If you would like to assist in this work please get in touch with the campaigns unit by emailing campaigns@forsa.ie.

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

The Fórsa Gaeltacht grant winners for 2024 have been announced. The Fórsa Gaeltacht grants scheme is aimed at promoting the use and comprehension of Irish by providing financial assistance to children of Fórsa members who wish to study Irish during the summer.

Grants of €150 each will be made available to 80 winners for attending residential Irish language courses this summer. A further 40 grants of €70 will be made to assist children to attend day-only Irish courses held outside Gaeltacht areas.

The list of all 120 winners can be found HERE.

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