Fórsa trade union welcomed the publication last week of the SNA allocations for the 2018/19 school year.

Fórsa fears that legislation compelling employers to reveal details of their organisation’s gender pay gap is unlikely to be passed if the Government insists on publishing its own Bill, rather than amending an opposition Bill that is proceeding through the Oireachtas.

Delegates to Fórsa's national conference last week adopted a motion mandating its national executive to work with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and others to achieve better work-life balance through a shorter working week.

Fórsa has backed Government proposals for the introduction of compulsory – or ‘automatic-enrolment’ – occupational pension schemes for all workers, funded by contributions from employees, employers and the State. But the union said employer contributions must be double those expected of workers in order to provide decent retirement incomes at a cost all workers could bear.

Fórsa is to continue its campaign for a right to union recognition in workplaces where staff want to be represented by a union.

This special episode covers the events of Fórsa's inaugural National Conference, including the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins' speech. Presented by Hazel Gavigan.