Fórsa is urging its members to support a national demonstration calling for an end to the housing and homeless crisis, which takes place in Dublin this Saturday (18th May).

The ‘Raise the Roof’ rally – the latest in a series of protests around the country – will call for a large-scale public house-building scheme. Its organisers are a coalition of trade unions, housing and homelessness organisations, and student bodies.

Other ‘Raise the Roof’ demands include rent controls, an end to forced evictions, more secure tenancies, and a legal right to housing.

Fórsa and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) are supporting the protest, and want members to sign ICTU’s housing petition.

Fórsa members should assemble at the union’s Nerney's Court office at 12.45pm on Saturday 18th May, before heading over to Parnell Square to join the rally at 1pm.

Fórsa has disputed Government estimates that restoring pre-crisis working time in the civil and public service could cost the Exchequer over €600 million a year. The union’s Senior General Secretary Designate Kevin Callinan said the figure was at least 50% higher than Government estimates when the additional time was introduced in 2013.

Speaking at Fórsa’s Civil Service divisional conference in Kilkenny last week, he added that advances in new technologies and work organisation could defray much of the cost of reduced working time in the public service and elsewhere.

Chair of the union’s Civil Service Division, Niall McGuirk, said civil servants now collectively worked 75,000 more hours each week than in 2013.

“The extra hours imposed on our members under the Haddington Road agreement still rankle with many. While the Public Service Stability Agreement is unwinding the emergency legislation that introduced pay cuts in 2009 and 2010, the question of hours still needs to be resolved. Our average hourly rate of pay has decreased, with civil servants earning just 93% of what they earned ten years ago,” he said.

Earlier, Kevin said discussion of the restoration of pre-crisis working hours should form part of mid-term review of the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA), which governs pay and working conditions for most public servants.

He said a review was necessary to “bolster the agreement’s credibility by taking account of improved economic indicators and past income foregone.”

Twelve civil service branches submitted motions on the ‘Haddington Road hours,’ which was more than on any other issue debated at the conference. Similar motions were tabled for the union’s health, education and local government conferences.

They relate to additional hours added to the working week of lower and middle-earning civil servants under the 2013 Haddington Road agreement.

Kevin said this had resulted in a “two-tier problem” because the temporary pay cuts experienced at the same time by higher grades – whose working time did not increase – have been restored, while additional working time for lower and middle earners has not.

“A few years ago, when we were in the eye of the economic storm, I opposed similar conference motions. But I’d struggle to construct a convincing argument against them now, in light of our current economic performance and rapidly-developing technological possibilities,” said Kevin.

Under the Haddington Road agreement, higher earners – those on €65,000 a year or more – suffered a third, but temporary pay cut. By January 2018 this had been restored in full, as envisaged in the deal.

Those who earned less accepted increased working hours to avoid a third pay cut. But, unlike their higher-paid colleagues, these workers have seen no restoration to pre-crisis working time levels.

Kevin said: “These were torrid times for Ireland and, when the Government sought savings to fill an extra and unexpected €1 billion hole in the public finances, we agreed to talk and workers reluctantly voted to accept a third hit.

“By doing so we produced the savings that enabled the country to meet the harsh Troika bailout terms, and we avoided the imposition of another public service-wide pay cut under the hated FEMPI emergency legislation.

“It was the right thing to do at the time. But six years later we’re left with yet another two-tier public service problem, which leaves those on low and middle incomes – mainly women – losing out.”

Kevin said Fórsa wanted to restore and maintain full confidence in the Public service Stability Agreement (PSSA), which governs pay and working conditions for most public servants. “It’s time to shift our focus from the past and focus on the challenge of delivering real improvements in wages and purchasing power,” he said.

Read Kevin Callinan’s blog on working time HERE.

Significant numbers of civil service promotions are continuing on all levels following the end of the recruitment moratorium. But Fórsa is still seeking restrictions on management’s use of psychometric testing, particularly for shortlisting.

Speaking to civil service conference delegates in Kilkenny last week, the union’s Head of Division Derek Mullen said he was talking to departments and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) about the various promotion mechanisms in use.

“We want to reach agreement on alternatives to psychometric tests, which are often used to shortlist in large volume competitions. As a union we need to decide what we think is the best alternative. For instance, is selection based on a competency-based application form the best way forward? It’s a mechanism that’s often used in departmental competitions or smaller open competitions,” he said.

The union has also criticised the Government’s failure to provide statistics in relation to the promotion of staff with disabilities. “This will have to be rectified, although we do acknowledge Government’s ongoing commitment to the recruitment of people with disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities,” said Derek.

The conference debated a large number of motions about promotions and related matters.

There was also a healthy debate about ongoing problems in HR shared services, where an official survey is expected to get underway shortly. This came on foot of Fórsa’s own survey – published at conference last year – which identified widespread problems in what was then called the ‘PeoplePoint’ system.

It found that over 80% of members had experienced problems with the system.

Derek said there had been some improvement, and that the union was working on the problem with management through a joint steering group.

“Progress is too slow. Shortly we will see a civil service-wide survey to identify the key issues, as far as members are concerned, with a view to developing action plans to alleviate those difficulties. But any delays in this process will inevitably lead us to contemplate further actions to return HR services to line departments,” he said.

Revenue management has agreed to ‘relaunch’ its employee engagement charter, which was originally published in 2017. The pledge came in a recent meeting between Fórsa officials and the board of the Revenue Commissioners, which discussed Realignment, Brexit and other matters.

Niall Cody, Chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, agreed that employee engagement was important and said all levels of management – including Fórsa grades – should be guided by the charter and Revenue’s employee engagement action plan.

The union also raised continuing preparations for Brexit. Some 400 staff have been appointed to Brexit-related roles, and an additional 200 are undergoing training. Management outlined its contingency arrangements for a ‘no-deal’ scenario. Fórsa again raised their concerns around the proposed move from allowanced posts to 24-7 shift premium for staff in ports and airports.

It was agreed that a union-board level meeting should take place at least once a year in future.

Meanwhile, industrial relations fora for the new Revenue divisional structure are getting underway, and meetings have taken place in customs, personnel, business, and elsewhere. Additional fora are being put in place for the large cases divisions - large corporates and high wealth individuals.

Local partnership meetings for these divisions have also begun work, with Fórsa encouraging staff to apply for partnership rep positions when opportunities arise.

Fórsa has also called for COs to replace EOs on phone rosters. Management said that it started to recruit at CO level in the business division in February, and that this might alleviate the problem. The staff will be in place once training is completed.

Management has also told the union that it’s working on ways to implement merit-based higher scales. Higher scales for executive grades were paused in some areas, but should be restarted everywhere by now.

Building works for staff in Dublin port continue in anticipation of Brexit. Fórsa raised objections to the proposals for enforcement staff on health and safety grounds. Management agreed and changes have been implemented as a result.

Meanwhile, movement of some shift and allowanced staff to Damastown is expected to commence later this month, while a new building at the Opera house site in Limerick is due to affect Revenue staff. The work is expected to take at least six years, and Fórsa is demanding appropriate renovations to the facilities for the staff affected in both Sarsfield and River House. Among other things, there is a requirement to resolve issues like the canteen noise and water damage in Sarsfield House.

Civil service management should work with unions to ensure that the introduction of new technologies does not lead to job losses or poorer services, according to Fórsa. Speaking at the union’s Civil Service Division Conference in Kilkenny last week, Head of Division Derek Mullen vowed the union would not oppose the introduction of new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). “But technological advancement should not be at the cost of services or jobs,” he said.

Derek pointed to the positive experience of the Revenue Commissioners, where new forms of work organisation – supported by retraining – had increased the tax take and improved audit and fraud control, rather than cutting jobs.

He told 400 conference delegates that Fórsa would not give blanket support to the replacement of people-provided services with AI. “We will support properly thought-out automation, controlled by workers and managers whose aim will be the continued enhancement and delivery of civil and public services. Citizens don’t want to talk to machines,” he said.

In a submission presented to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform earlier this year, Fórsa argued for steps to ensure that new recruits are equipped to thrive in increasingly-automated work environments, and said older workers should get help to adapt.

The paper also argued against an expensive external consultant-led approach to technological development. “The diminution of in-house IT services over the last two decades has seen the growth of a hugely costly consultant-led approach to designing new systems. This must change,” it says.

The submission was written as part of the union’s response to civil service management proposals for procurement of new technologies, on foot of an automation pilot that’s been underway in a small number of civil service departments over the last year.

Derek told delegates that Fórsa would continue to champion the delivery of world class civil and public services. “The world of work will change, as will society, and we must ensure that this is achieved equitably, and that decent work is protected in all parts of the economy, including in the civil service.

“We demand more involvement and negotiation on change initiatives. We won’t be found wanting, but we won’t accept poor planning and we categorically reject outsourcing as a solution. Just look at the costs to taxpayers of the failed JobPath scheme in social protection,” he said.

The issue of working time remains “one constant” being raised by civil servants, despite the pay restoration of recent times, according to the chair of Fórsa’s Civil Service Division. But, speaking in advance of the union’s civil service conference in Kilkenny, Niall McGuirk acknowledged that Fórsa Senior General Secretary Designate Kevin Callinan had pledged action on the issue. 

“While the conference on working time that Fórsa hosted last year has helped create a dialogue around our working day, the extra hours imposed on our members under the Haddington Road agreement still rankle with many.

“Whilst we see the unwinding of much of FEMPI under the Public Service Stability Agreement, it is obvious from our motions, and from all our meetings, that the question of hours still needs to be resolved. Our hourly rate of pay has decreased. Kevin Callinan pointed out at a recent conference that the average hourly earnings for civil servants are 93% of what they were ten years ago,” he said.

Niall also noted that Fórsa had signed up to 17 ‘sustainable development goals’ being promoted by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. These are seen as a blueprint for tackling climate change and ending poverty by 2030, while promoting decent work for all.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has organised a briefing on tipping practices in the hospitality sector, and the union group ONE Galway’s campaign for legal changes on the issue.

The event is part of ICTU’s monthly ‘Friday Briefing’ series, which features informal talks on topical workplace issues.

The event will hear from ICTU’s Trades Council Network and One Program Co-ordinator Fiona Dunne, lecturer and academic Deirdre Curran, Senator Paul Gavan, and Siptu organiser and One Galway local co-ordinator Clem Shevlin.

ONE Galway’s tipping campaign is encouraging customers in hotels, restaurants and pubs to ask how their tips are distributed and what percentage workers receive.

ONE Galway is a Congress-backed program to strengthen trade union awareness, build links between unions and communities, and enhance union’s local engagement. A similar initiative is in place in Cork.

The Congress Briefing takes place at ICTU’s head office in 31-32 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, at 10:30am on Friday 24th May. If you wish to attend, please email eileen.sweeney@ictu.ie.

Fórsa and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have welcomed a new Government initiative to combat sexual harassment and violence. The move comes after it was revealed that Ireland has the highest level of sexual harassment in Europe.

A survey revealed that nearly a third of women between the ages of 18 to 34 say they experienced some form of sexual harassment in the last 12 months.

On foot of this shocking statistic, Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan has launched a major national awareness campaign on sexual harassment and sexual violence.

The ‘no excuses’ media campaign, which features an ad to run for three years, aims to increase society's awareness of sexual harassment and sexual violence. It also intends to bring about a change in long-established behaviours and attitudes, and activate bystanders with the aim of decreasing and preventing this kind of violence.

Fórsa Equality Officer Geraldine O’Brien welcomed the campaign, and said such initiatives could help reduce sexual violence by creating an open discussion on the problem.

“The prominence of this campaign breaks down barriers by bringing sexual harassment into an open forum. The ad creates a greater understanding of sexual harassment and violence. It will make people more aware of potentially dangerous situations, and provide us with tools to diffuse them,” she said.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) also commended the initiative and called for improved protections for people experiencing sexual harassment.

ICTU General Secretary Patricia King said: “It’s time for complaints of sexual harassment to be elevated to the status of ‘protected disclosures’, ensuring stronger protection and reporting mechanisms for those submitting them.”

The ‘no excuses’ initiative is timely as negotiations will take place on a new International Labour Organization convention on violence and harassment in the workplace at the International Labour Conference next month.

Click here for more information on the campaign and here to watch the ad.

Most older workers will be unable to meet the target of 40 years’ worth of contributions to qualify for a full rate pension, which is set out in plans for pension ‘auto-enrolment’. And the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called on the Government to revert to the 30 year target it originally identified.

ICTU Social Policy Officer Dr Laura Bambrick says the requirement of 40 years is not feasible for many older workers because of time spent in part-time employment. She also says the Government’s failure to meet deadlines for finalising the design of key aspects of its pension reform plan present major concerns for many workers.

Dr Bambrick said these concerns were further exacerbated by recent CSO figures, which found that over 50% of low and middle income earners were not saving for their retirement. This could leave them completely reliant on the State pension.

Under its ‘Roadmap to Pension Reform’ the Government was due to finalise plans to implement its new approach by the end of 2018, and bring forward legislation by April 2019. The Government also missed its March deadline to finalise designs for an auto-enrolment system to sign almost all workers up to an occupational pension scheme – with contributions from employers and the Government, as well as employees – by 2022.

Dr Bambrick added that many people who are coming up to retirement in 2019 are confused about pension reforms. “People don’t know what the rules are going to be when the new pension comes,” she said.

A petition calling for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to back a new social contract has been launched by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

The ILO is a United Nations body that brings together representatives of governments, trade union federations and employer bodies. The ITUC petition was launched ahead of its meeting to negotiate the ILO’s ‘centennial declaration,’ which takes place next month.

It calls for the ILO to pursue rights for workers, fairer wages, greater flexibility around working time and climate justice.

ITUC general secretary Sharan Burrow said the petition was an opportunity to highlight the need to modernise the ILO to address the issues affecting workers in the 21st century.

“This is a once in a generation opportunity to set rules for the global economy to work for people. A strong outcome would set us on the path to a new social contract to give security to all working people,” she said.

You can find more information HERE.

Fórsa delegates expressed solidarity with the trans community at the union’s Local Government and Local Services Division Conference in Kilkenny last week.

The union’s Dun Laoghaire Rathdown branch won overwhelming support for a motion welcoming Fórsa’s support of last year’s first Trans Pride march in Dublin, and commended the progress made towards the recognition of transgender rights as human rights.

The motion also highlighted difficulties and discrimination transgender people face in society and the workplace.

Conference backed the call on the union to pursue transgender rights through Fórsa’s equality committee and with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

After the motion passed, the branch tweeted its delight at the huge endorsement. “We're really happy that our motion recognising that #TransRightsAreHumanRights has been passed at #flglsconf2019,” it said.

This year’s Dublin Trans Pride march takes place on July 6th at 2pm from the Garden of Remembrance. The theme is break the binary and all trans, non-binary, intersex and cis people are invited to attend.

For more information on the march, see here.

The first meeting of Fórsa’s just transition network will take place in the union’s office in Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1, at 10.00am on Friday 24th May. The union will be supporting the latest ‘schools strike for climate,’ which takes place later that day.

Meanwhile, unions have called for a ‘just transition’ forum to alleviate job losses resulting in Bord Na Móna’s plans to move from peat production to carbon-free products, according to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

Its ‘Building a Just Transition’ conference, held in Tullamore at the end of last month, heard urgent calls for a forum for the midlands to identify measures and supports for workers and communities affected by Bord Na Móna’s restructuring.

The conference was chaired by Marie Sherlock and Fórsa’s Senior General Secretary Designate Kevin Callinan, who said that lessons needed to be learned from the situation facing workers in Bord Na Móna.

“These workers and their communities are being asked to make a huge sacrifice in response to the threat posed by climate change. The Government simply isn’t doing enough to support these workers by implementing policies to mitigate their sacrifices, despite committing to do so under the terms of the 2015 Paris agreement,” he said.

Unions in Ireland and abroad have strongly backed moves towards a carbon-free economy in response to the climate crisis. But they say workers and communities most affected by the transition should be protected as part of the process.

ICTU General Secretary Patrica King said that taking action on climate change was no longer an optional policy extra for the Government.

“Just transition is about seizing new opportunities and sharing the benefits of change, through creating better jobs, better social protection, more training opportunities and greater job security for all those affected by global warming and climate change policies,“ she said.

To participate in Fórsa’s just transition network, or to join the union delegation on 24th May, contact joconnor@forsa.ie.

Get more information on the ICTU conference HERE.

Fórsa is urging its members to exercise their democratic right to vote when polls open on Friday week (24th May) in local and European parliamentary elections.

The union is not affiliated to any political party or group, but it has tested candidates to establish their positions on a range of issues raised in Fórsa campaigns. These include ‘More Power to You,’ the initiative that seeks to rebuild local democracy and local authority services.

The union has also urged sitting elected representatives and candidates to support pension justice for community employment supervisors, and an end to the unfair two-tier pay system for school secretaries. 

Along with other trade unions, Fórsa has also sought candidates’ backing for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ (ICTU) Charter for Housing Rights.

 
ICTU has also asked European parliamentary hopefuls to sign up to a number of pledges. These cover action to protect Irish jobs and communities from the impact of Brexit, support for trade union rights, working conditions, health rights, and economic equality.

Providing affordable, high-quality broadband to rural Ireland would have been simpler, cheaper and quicker if the State’s telecoms infrastructure had remained in public ownership, according to top Fórsa official Angela Kirk.

Speaking ahead of the union’s Services and Enterprises Division Conference, which takes place in Sligo next week, the head of division also said European Union (EU) ‘state aid’ rules placed too much emphasis on protecting private operators and markets, instead of easing government intervention to improve services to the public.

National governments have to follow the complicated ‘state aid’ rules when the EU deems they are intervening in private markets.

Angela said Fórsa supports the objective of affordable high-speed broadband for all, and a thriving telecoms sector. “But people are rightly asking why the Irish taxpayer must hand over €3 billion for an asset that will be owned by a company that’s invested just €200 million.

“This project would have been far more straightforward if the EU was more focused on communities than corporations, and if the Irish telecoms sector included a state-owned provider,” she said.

ICTU General Secretary Patrica King also questioned why taxpayers were to fund a private distribution system that the State would never own. And she called on the Government to “ensure that high-quality labour standards are involved to deliver this project.”

Congress said the broadband plan would bring long-term benefits to workers, students, and families in rural Ireland if it were fully realised. But it said there were many questions hanging over the scheme.

“The public needs to be reassured that the State is getting value for money, and that a private monopoly will not hold consumers to ransom and charge what they like when the service is operational,” she said.