Public Sector pay talks began this week. After initial engagement at the WRC on Monday 27th November the parties adjourned. Talks are now due to reconvene this morning, Friday 1st December at 10am. 

Writing to members ahead of the start of the talks Fórsa General Secretary Kevin Callinan outlined the approach the Public Services Committee of ICTU agreed. 

Kevin said: "We have a short window to negotiate a new deal for the 385,000 public sector workers in Ireland. Pay increases over the last three years have not made up the gap between wages and the cost of living. That gap is felt most acutely by the lowest paid workers, so we want to make sure that any agreement looks after those public sector workers who earn the least."

On Friday 17th of November, the public services unions affiliated to ICTU agreed that a multi-year agreement would only be possible if the Government made a commitment to repealing the remaining elements of FEMPI. 

This emergency legislation, brought in during the crisis, centralises control in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to an excessive extent, which is stopping ordinary industrial relations progressing even when there’s agreement between employers and unions. 

Explaining the impact this has Kevin said: “When this level of central control is being exerted by one Department the statutory system of industrial relations, including the Workplace Relations Commission, the Labour Court, and even in some instances, conciliation and arbitration schemes, can’t work as they are meant to.”

However, disappointingly, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe responded that he "was not aware of any practical impact that the Financial Emergency measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act, 2009 has on the conduct of normal industrial relations in the public service.” 

As such, in accordance with the decision of all 19 ICTU PSC affiliates on 17th November, the union negotiators are now concentrating on trying to reach agreement on short-term pay measures to address cost-of-living and labour market pressures. 

Explaining why unions are taking this approach Kevin said: “We don’t want our members to miss out on a possible pay deal. But we cannot commit to an agreement that reduces our capacity to represent members over a prolonged period, that’s why we will focus on a shorter-term agreement.” 

Kevin concluded: "We want a fair, affordable, and sustainable pay deal for the public sector workers of Ireland who contribute so much to our country every day". As talks progress we will continue to update members. 

A series of lunchtime protests will take place next week on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th December at different locations around the country. These lunchtime protests will take place between 12.45pm and 1.45pm and provide an opportunity for Fórsa members to demonstrate our opposition to the continuing ban on recruitment.

Fórsa's clerical and administrative members in the HSE have been engaged in a sustained action of non-cooperation since the 6th of October, in response to the HSE’s unilateral imposition of a moratorium on recruitment for those grades in September. Talks at the WRC earlier this month failed to find an agreement.  These protests are the next step in this industrial action.

Fórsa national secretary Ashley Connolly said: “Despite extensive engagement by Fórsa, the HSE is unwilling to acknowledge that clerical admin roles must be filled. At this time of year the health services need to be fully staffed, not understaffed.”

“Rather than further escalating our industrial action in a way that might disrupt service delivery and service users we will protest next week  which gives our members an opportunity to voice their opposition to the recruitment freeze. The decision of the HSE to implement a recruitment freeze is unjust, our members are not responsible for the HSE overspending- the HSE must commence recruitment of vital positions now – before services are irreversibly impacted.”

An FAQ on this industrial action is available to read here. 

The three unions representing workers employed community and voluntary sector agencies, Fórsa, the INMO and SIPTU, confirmed last week that members of all three unions have given strong backing to a set of proposals, brokered last month during talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), for an interim agreement on pay for workers in Section 39, 56 and 10 organisations.

The WRC proposals led to the suspension of planned indefinite strike action, which had been due to commence in 17 employments across the country in October.

The proposals include pay increases backdated to April 2023, along with commitments to address the funding issues in the sector, providing for the parties to reconvene under the auspices of the WRC no later than December. The ICTU-led coalition of unions have now sought to reconvene the parties at the WRC.

The purpose of the WRC engagement will be to agree further adjustments in funding for organisations and their staff that will have regard to the terms of the Building Momentum public service pay agreement and the terms of any successor public pay agreement.

The proposals backed by the unions provide for the following pay adjustments:

• An Increase of 3% from 1st April 2023 (backdated)
• An Increase of 2% from 1st November 2023
• An Increase of 3% from 1st March 2024

The dispute followed years of pay disparity between workers in Section 39 (health and disability services) Section 56 (services to children), Section 10 (homeless services), in community services and their counterparts employed directly by the state.

Because of that pay gap, union research has shown that workers are leaving their jobs - in large numbers - to take better-paid employment elsewhere. The turnover of staff in the sector is around 30% per year. The staffing crisis is adding to recruitment costs and longer waiting lists.

CORU's statutory regulation register officially opened for social care workers yesterday (30th November).

Regulation recognises the critical role this profession plays in society and will enhance the public’s confidence in the social care work profession.

Social care workers are joining many other health and social care professions – including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers and speech and language therapists – designated for statutory regulation under the 2005 Health and Social Care Professionals Act.

The Act requires all such professionals to register and meet explicit professional standards, including a requirement to undertake continuing professional development. The system allows for ‘fitness to practise’ cases to be brought against practitioners who fail to meet professional standards.

Fórsa official Chris Cully is encouraging social care members to get ready for registration.

“The role of social care workers has grown and expanded over the years, moving from a time when there were no professional qualifications, to today when there are forty-four-degree courses available. The progress of the profession has culminated in regulation which gives equity of standing with the other health professions. Depending on your status as new graduate, an international applicant, or an existing practitioner there are different routes one must take to become registered and it’s important for our members to be prepared,” she said.

Last October Fórsa welcomed over 150 members to a conference for social care workers, looking to get ready for registration. We’re also organising a series of regional information roadshows to take place during 2024. Dates, locations and further details of these roadshows will be available in the new year. 

Last week the union announced that its industrial action in Tusla would escalate on Monday 4th of December, however, following an invitation from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that action has now been paused.

This industrial action involves Tusla’s clerical and administrative staff employed in grades three to six, who balloted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in September. The action takes the form of a series of non-cooperation actions. The dispute has arisen because Tusla has failed to honour the 2013 framework agreement specifically in relation to access to the job evaluation scheme.

The Disputes Committee met on the 29th of November following receipt of an invitation from the WRC to explore the issues surrounding the dispute and ascertain if it is possible to find a route to resolution.

The Disputes Committee decided to agree to exploratory talks under the auspices of the WRC and, given the WRC invitation was conditional on the union 'pausing' its escalation of industrial action, the Disputes Committee agreed to ‘pause’ the escalation to allow for these talks to take place. The WRC date is scheduled for Monday 4th December 2023. The existing instruction related to the ongoing industrial action, in place since 25th October, remains in place. An FAQ on this dispute is available here.

Assistant General Secretary in the Health Division Chris Cully said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank members for their continued diligence and co-operation with this industrial action. We are stronger when we stand together. This dispute is of a very grave nature. Breaching a framework agreement protecting staff terms and conditions cannot be taken lightly. We are determined to ensure our members gain access to the job evaluation scheme that is part of the 2013 framework agreement.”

2023 was a very successful year for Membership Training and Development as we introduced an additional 22 Fórsa 101 information sessions, 12 live Lunch and Learn sessions, 7 new Foundational Workplace Representatives Training courses and delivered eight custom developed workshops for Branches.

This was in addition to the courses and sessions which already existed, where we also added in extra GDPR, Annual Branch Returns training, and ensured our Branch Officers received excellent training to be effective in their role following AGM season.

To make sure new members know about training opportunities we ask all branches to encourage new members to sign up to a Fórsa 101 information session as soon as they join.

Central to this information session is the consistent message outlining the importance of the member, particularly being active and how they can help build our strength through some simple actions.

Our live Lunch and Learn sessions have been immensely popular and have received registrations upward of 450 members. Due to the phenomenal response and the interest from both members and representatives to these sessions, they are set to be a permanent fixture in our calendar next year.

Our last Lunch and Learn for 2023 takes place on 8th December, with our own Dessie Robinson taking the helm and delivering a session on Dignity at Work. 

2024 is set to be another busy year for all of us in Skills Academy and we hope to introduce some exciting new modular courses for our more experienced workplace representatives, along with a Mentoring Programme for our newest representatives which we plan to pilot in January and launch at our Biennial Conference in May.

Workshop for Branch Treasurers: 18th January 2024

The Annual Branch Returns Workshop is targeted at current Branch Treasurers, particularly Treasurers who are new to the role or who have not received this training previously.

The purpose of the training is to equip Branch Treasurers to be competent in completing the Annual Branch Returns in a timely fashion, to help you fully understand the process and avoid potential pitfalls. This is a very practical training day and will afford participants the opportunity to have their finance, tax and audit questions answered by our finance staff and other qualified personnel.

This course will take place in-person on Thursday 18th January 2024 at our Fórsa Head Office, Nerney's Court, Dublin 1 from 10:00 - 16:00.

Fórsa 101 January 2024

Fórsa 101 is a short information and awareness raising session to welcome new members into the Union and highlight how members can become more engaged in the union locally. This session is specifically targeted to those who have never received any training previously or are not currently active within the Union.

It provides basic information to ensure our members understand exactly what a Trade Union is, the structure of Fórsa and how we do our business, along with discussing how members can become more engaged and have their voice heard locally and their issues raised at Divisional and National levels. The next Fórsa 101 sessions will take place on Wednesday 10th January online, there will be both a morning session at 9.30am and an evening session at 6pm.

The sessions will be between 2 to 2 1/2 hours long and online.

You can register to attend here. The deadline for registration is 10th December.

If you have queries about the Skills Academy, please contact Judith on 021 4255221 or 087 4072603 or by email to skillsacademy@forsa.ie.

Fiona Dunne, 

Director of Training.

Up to a thousand trade union activists gathered beneath the statue of James Larkin in Dublin’s O’Connell Street at lunchtime on Monday (27th November) in a solidarity demonstration organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

The vigil was organised to show solidarity with those injured or caught up in last week’s events, responding to a call by Congress to clearly reject rioting and violence.

Among those to address the vigil was Fórsa SNA member Carol McSherry. She said: “I’d like to express the solidarity of the many thousands of SNAs around the country with the parents and staff of the school communities of Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire and surrounding schools.

“SNAs work with children from diverse backgrounds. The reception that they get from the community will colour the rest of their lives, how they perceive their place in our country. We want them to feel safe, loved and included.

“We gather as friends to offer our love, solidarity and support, and as allies in the healing process that lies ahead. And in your darkest hour, please know that we’re here, in solidarity with you, expressing love and rejecting hate,” she said.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan expressed gratitude and solidarity with those working to protect the city, and to the workers engaged in the clean-up of Dublin city centre: “On behalf of Fórsa’s members, we are appalled at the violence and commend the bravery of those who sought to intervene and prevent further injury.

“Equally, we want to express solidarity with retail, public transport staff and other workers affected by the violence in Dublin city centre, to thank those who continue to protect Dublin and its people, and the medical staff providing care and assistance to those affected. Those engaged in violent disorder don't represent the people of Ireland,” he said.

Congress general secretary Owen Reidy said: "Our bottom line is that every worker, whoever they are, has a right to health and safety, they have a right to go home at the end of their work unharmed.

“We also want to send a message that the xenophobic and racist nature of some of the violence last week does not represent us, we have to reject that. Whether you were born in this city, or whether you were born anywhere in the world, if you live and work here - you are part of our community" he said.

Christian Tei, originally from Romania and a Dublin Bus driver, said it was getting more difficult to do his job in Dublin: “I want to go to work and feel safe, one of my colleagues was attacked because he had a different colour of skin, that is not acceptable”, he said. He said he was born in Romania, has lived in Ireland for 17 years, and is now an Irish citizen: “I am Irish and proud,” he said, drawing sustained applause and cheers from the crowd.

Listen back to some of our recent radio interviews here:

· Fórsa assistant general secretary Liz Fay spoke to RTE’s Claire Byrne on Tuesday about the harassment of Fórsa members working in library services

· Fórsa media relations director Niall Shanahan spoke to Matt Cooper on Today FM’s Last Word programme about the solidarity vigil.

Workers experiencing domestic violence will now be able to take up to five days leave with full pay, following the introduction of Section 7 of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 which came into effect last Monday (23rd November).

No prior notice needs to be given and can be taken where the employee is experiencing domestic violence, including coercive control, or where they are supporting their spouse, partner, or child who is the victim.

Fórsa has welcomed the introduction of this vital provision, but the union has committed to continue working to collectively bargain to secure ten days paid leave for workers who need to avail of this support.

Fórsa has long campaigned for the introduction of leave for those experiencing domestic violence, and in May 2022 delegates at Fórsa’s national conference in Killarney unanimously backed a motion from the union’s national executive calling for statutory paid leave for victims of domestic violence. In May this year, delegates at the Services and Enterprises Divisional Conference voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion calling for union efforts to collectively bargain for ten days’ domestic violence leave within the division’s employments.

National secretary Ashley Connolly said that this long-awaited leave is a milestone in this hard-fought campaign.

“The introduction of this leave is vital support for survivors to assist them in making essential changes such as moving out of a violent situation, seeking legal support, and organising care for dependents. No one experiencing domestic violence should have to risk poverty or unemployment to seek support and the introduction of this leave will help workers try to find a pathway out of violence,” she said.

Communications and events officer Róisín McKane said it was “a great step forward” in supporting survivors of domestic abuse.

“We know that the effects of domestic abuse spills over into the workplaces - our members have told us. We know that supportive workplaces can make a difference to those suffering domestic abuse and violence, and this leave will make a real difference to those experiencing abuse,” she said.

Ashley said that Ireland is “leading the way” in bringing in paid leave for workers who are victims of domestic violence but expressed disappointment at the five-day limit.

“We believe the workplace should be a safe space, a place where the stigma and the shame can be left at the door. Financial independence from abusers is the key to escaping and building a better life. If this new law is to do what is intended, workers must be paid their full wages during absences. Anything less risks putting them in further danger. It’s disappointing that the leave is for only five days, but we will continue to work to collectively bargain to provide for ten days paid leave,” she said.

Fórsa member and Women’s Aid advocate Linda O’Sullivan spoke to Highland Radio earlier this week welcoming the legislation as a first step. You can listen back to that interview here.

Supporting the Toy Appeal for Temple Street Children’s Hospital has become a Christmas tradition for Fórsa.

Last year was a hugely successful drive collecting dozens of toys and raising thousands of euro for Children in Temple Street. We have many members working in Temple Street, our next-door neighbours at the Nerney’s Court office in Dublin. Donating toys or vouchers is a simple way to make a difference to the lives of sick children at this special time of year. The appeal also includes the Crumlin, Tallaght and Connolly hospitals.

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. The deadline for the delivery of the gifts or vouchers is close of business on Friday, 15th of December. Alternatively, if you happen to be in our Nerney’s Court office between now and then, you can drop off your donations at our collection point. You can see a list of toys which are on the wish-list of patients at the hospital this Christmas here.

Please also note that the hospital does not accept food items, homemade toys, small toys which could be a choking hazard, or used toys due to strict infection control guidelines. Please do not wrap the toys as all toys need to be checked by the hospital before being given to the patients.

If you are not sure what to get the Smyths toys and One for All vouchers were very popular last year. In fact, the Children’s Health Foundation were especially anxious to encourage the voucher option this year. For further information please contact Kevin Donoghue by email at kdonoghue@forsa.ie

As always, we appreciate the support of everyone who participates in the appeal.

A team of researchers have been appointed by the Labour Employment Economic Forum (LEEF) through the Shared Island Unit of the Department of An Taoiseach, to review the current conditions of the island of Ireland labour market.

Workers in the region are invited to participate by sharing their experiences via the following brief online survey. You can take part here.

The purpose of the research is to provide an updated evidence base and analysis of the current all-island labour market conditions with a specific focus on the following factors in both jurisdictions and their impacts on the operation of the labour market across the island: personal taxation, pension entitlements and portability, social welfare systems, qualifications, skills, cross-border worker mobility, the changing world of work (i.e., remote / hybrid working), collective bargaining and trade union coverage.

The team includes Maureen O’Reilly who is an independent Economist, Annmarie O’Kane who leads the Border People project with the Centre for Cross Border Studies, Seamus McGuinness and Anne Devlin from the ESRI and Rose Tierney, a cross border accountant and tax specialist.

More information is available here.

All contributions are anonymous. The survey is open until Monday 4th December. For further information please contact Annmarie O’Kane borderpeople@qub.ac.uk.

Fórsa Communications Unit produces the bulletins you receive every two weeks, with input from across the union.

We would like your feedback on what you like about the bulletins, and what you think could be improved. We want to make sure you are informed and up to date with the union’s campaigns, actions and activities. So please take a few minutes and complete this short survey.

Thank you. 

December’s live Lunch and Learn is on ‘Dignity at Work - Understanding what Bullying is and is not’.

This session will be led by Dessie Robinson, retired Fórsa Assistant General Secretary, who coordinated the recently published 'Right to dignity at work' survey and the subsequent seminar held in Fórsa's head office in November. You can read the report HERE.

The session will take place online on Friday, 8th December from 13:00-14:00. Whilst these sessions will be recorded and saved on our YouTube playlist, the live Lunch and Learn will be the time to have your questions answered directly by Dessie.

Everyone is welcome, so please share the details with your colleagues so they can register to attend this online session. To attend please register HERE by Wednesday, 6th December at 13:00.