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Challenges for Government need social dialogue
by Niall Shanahan
 
Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Taoiseach Micheál Martin

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan has said the new Government is facing a unique set of challenges following the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.


Fórsa general secretary and vice-president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Kevin Callinan, has said the new Government is facing a unique set of challenges following the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

 

He said the new administration would ultimately be more successful in addressing these challenges by engaging in a new programme of social dialogue, bringing together unions and employers to develop shared solutions to the economic and social problems caused, or intensified, by the crisis.

 

Among the most immediate challenge, he said, is the continuing high rate of temporary unemployment: “Ireland currently ranks ninth among EU member states in terms of the number of workers temporarily unemployed, which currently stands at just over 22 per cent.

 

“However, the unemployment rate is just over 45 per cent for those aged up to 24, revealing the disproportionate effect of the crisis on younger people.

 

"In that context, the new government must consider the need for jobs investment, in addition to workers’ rights, the living wage and collective bargaining. Issues upon which the new Programme for Government is largely silent.”

 

He said the enormity of the crisis in Irish aviation also required urgent attention, while the European Commission has recommended the need for healthcare reform and specific measures to address unemployment and to prepare the workforce for climate, energy and circular economy transition.

 

Kevin said there were opportunities for Ireland respond positively to these challenges as the EU appears to be adopting a more social democratic stance in its response to post-Covid economic recovery: “While there’s still resistance from some European partners on the management and distribution of the proposed €750bn recovery fund, the EU does appear to have learned the lessons of an austerity-led approach to the last crisis.

 

“Ireland should be well placed to benefit from a more enlightened approach by the EU, particularly as the threat of a no-deal Brexit intensifies in the latter half of the year. Our response to all of these issues will be more successful if they are driven by a social dialogue process,” he said.

 

The new Programme for Government has committed to establishing a unit in the Department of Taoiseach to coordinate social dialogue and “create new models of sectoral engagement”.

 

Public service agreement

 

Kevin also highlighted the pressing need for a successor to the current PSSA agreement, and wrote this week to the new Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, on behalf of the ICTU Public Services Committee (PSC), seeking a discussion about public service pay and conditions.

 

The PSSA is due to expire at the end of the year. Kevin advised the minister that, in normal circumstances, the government and the PSC would have discussed, and probably finalised, proposals for a successor agreement before now. The minister has acknowledged that this is one of his priorities in his new role.

 

Kevin commented: “The Covid-19 crisis served to illustrate the crucial role of public services in responding to the multiple challenges we faced. In health, social protection, transport, local authorities and other services, workers were called upon to work in different ways to ensure a cohesive response to protect public health, and to ensure the seamless delivery of the services we all rely upon.

 

“The new Government needs to strengthen our public services during its term, and ensure that they are robust in the face of future challenges,” he said.

 

While there had been some recent media speculation about the final payment due under the terms of the PSSA in October, the new minister confirmed on Tuesday that the Government will fulfil its obligations under the terms of the agreement.

 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Fórsa summer series continues
by Hazel Gavigan
 

The Fórsa summer series of webinars on campaigning issues continues later today with a discussion on collective bargaining from expert panellists. 


The Fórsa summer series of webinars on campaigning issues continues later today.

 

To join the lunch time session click here at 1pm for a discussion on collective bargaining with contributions from experts including Siptu senior researcher, Michael Taft; Director of the Migrants’ Rights Centre Ireland, Edel McGinley; and former chair of the Labour Court, Kevin Duffy.

 

The panel will discuss whether employees should have the right to choose who represents them in their workplace, as the Irish constitution includes a right to join a union but does not mandate employers to recognise them.

 

Designed to equip the union’s senior activists with the skills and tools to lead local campaigns, the summer series offers opportunities to discuss and debate on some of the pressing issues of interest to Fórsa activists across a range of economic, social, equality and environmental topics.

 

To register for upcoming sessions on campaigning (10th July), universal healthcare (16th July), climate action and automation (24th July), and the future of work (31st July) please click HERE to register your interest.

 

Be sure to follow the coverage on Twitter using the hashtag #FórsaSummerSeries

 

Last week’s webinar examined what a new social and economic Irish model could look like in a post-Covid society. Read more about that here.

 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Collective approach needed for aviation
by Niall Shanahan
 

Fórsa general secretary and vice-president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Kevin Callinan, has called on the Government to engage collectively with all interests directly involved in the aviation sector.


Fórsa general secretary and vice-president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Kevin Callinan, has called on the Government to engage collectively with all interests directly involved in the aviation sector.

 

He said that the challenges and severe difficulties facing workers, and the companies that employ them, in recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, will continue for a prolonged period.

 

Fórsa represents members employed throughout the Irish aviation industry, including Aer Lingus and Ryanair, as well as staff at the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

 

Kevin said everyone recognises the role that a successful aviation sector has played in the Irish economy: “It’s vital for an island nation, with a significant dependence on tourism and overseas investment, to ensure that we collectively agree the right policies.

 

“This is essential to creating the right environment for a safe return to flying schedules, and for passengers and airline staff to feel confident and safe while doing so.

 

“Public health concerns, and the advice of our medical and scientific experts, will be paramount in any policy decisions. It’s equally important that effective surveillance embraces the safety and health of all airport and airline staff,” he said.

 

In May this year the union called on the Government to act swiftly to ensure that Ireland has an aviation industry after the Covid-19 health crisis is over, and identified regional airports as being particularly vulnerable. Kevin said the difficulties facing the sector should now be included as a key item on the agenda for a meeting ICTU has sought with the Taoiseach.

 

He added: “The current volley of exchanges over the airwaves serves no purpose. Conflicting opinion only adds to the confusion and uncertainty facing the thousands of workers employed in the sector.”

 

The union has previously criticised the manner in which some aviation employers have treated staff in recent months, despite receiving hundreds of thousands of Euro from the public purse.

 

Kevin said the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme was put in place at the commencement of the lockdown to ensure that all employees remained part of the workforce. “What we need now is a specific long-term plan, involving the appropriate Government support, in order to deliver on this objective for the aviation sector.

 

“The announcements and threats of redundancies at some airlines runs contrary to this approach and is entirely inconsistent with the spirit in which we have collectively engaged with the challenges and hardships presented by the pandemic,” he said.

 

Kevin said workers needed to be aware of the risk of inadvertently finding themselves unavailable for work in the event that they travelled abroad - in contravention of public health guidelines and Government advice - and are subsequently required to go into quarantine on their return.

 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Eliminate racial discrimination – IHREC
by Mehak Dugal
 

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has called on the new Government to commit to the elimination of racial discrimination.


The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has called on the new Government to commit to the elimination of racial discrimination and ensure that the promotion of equal opportunity regardless of ethnicity is at the centre of future policy decisions.

 

In a new report, the IHREC said that racism needed to be recognized as a “structural problem across our whole society,” which in many cases resulted in “racial discrimination in employment, and the provision of services.”

 

The report emphasises the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement in recognising Ireland’s own issues of racism and discrimination when it comes to the Traveller community. The report says Irish people can play a pro-active role in choosing not to ignore the racism that already exists in the country.

 

The report also called for the need for a greater urgency in addressing hate crimes and speech in Ireland, through the means of including an effective response in the criminal law, which also addresses the hate speech perpetrated online.

 

Treatment of Travellers ‘a dark shadow on democracy’

 

The IHREC said Ireland’s treatment of Travellers, in particular, has been a dark shadow on Irish democracy for generations: “Travellers have been – and continue to be – subjected to endemic racism, at street level and from the organs of the State.

 

“If the invidious impact of racism on the individual and on a community could ever be doubted, one only has to consider the effects of discrimination on generations of Irish travellers, in their political representation, employment, education, health and life expectancy.

 

“What is important now is that we face racism and racial discrimination in our own communities, and in our own society. That we do not seek to down-play it or ignore it. And that we respond with the proper actions necessary to address structural racism in our society.”

 

Positive change

 

Following the recent welcome news of activist Eileen Flynn becoming the first female Traveller in the Oireachtas, she spoke about her agenda to bring about a positive change for underrepresented communities across Ireland. Eileen campaigns on anti-racism issues, marriage equality, housing and abortion rights.

 

She echoed the demands of the report, saying “I’d love to see hate crime legislation in Ireland, we do not have it. I’d like to work with those people, those who don’t fit into boxes,” she added.

 

Flynn said that there are many obstacles put in the way for people from underrepresented communities, and the election of people like her provides an opportunity to be “a voice for equality.”

 

Recommendations

 

The IHREC outlined more than 150 recommendations for policy changes across health, housing, education, employment and other sectors to address the issue of racism against members of the Travelling community to better help build an inclusive society.

 

Monday (29th June) marked the 20th anniversary of the Race Equality Directive, under which EU Member States, including Ireland, committed to implementing a legal framework to eliminate racial and ethnic discrimination in policy and practice. But there is still a long way to go to achieve that goal.

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Two-thirds of workers concerned about childcare
by Hazel Gavigan
 

Almost two-thirds of workers say their main concern about returning to work is the provision of childcare, according to new research conducted by CIPD. 


Almost two-thirds of workers say their main concern about returning to work is the provision of childcare.

 

This is according to new research conducted by CIPD who surveyed nearly 350 organisations about the key issues being raised by staff to management.

 

The study also found that 70% of employers are now open to facilitating working from home compared to just 10% at the start of this year.

 

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, Fórsa has been calling on the government to provide a practical solution to the childcare issue.

 

The union’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly explained that many workers, particularly those on the frontline in healthcare have incurred massive additional childcare costs in order to continue serving the public:

 

“To do right by staff and maximise the numbers available in our hospitals and community health settings, the government should agree to meet additional costs that essential health workers incurred during the crisis,” he said.

 

Time off

 

Director of CIPD, Mary Connaughton said the reopening of crèches on Monday relieved some of the childcare pinch-points, but has not solved the issues faced by parents of primary school children:

 

“During the pandemic many parents had to take time off for childcare, taking both paid and unpaid leave, and we are conscious that it remains a worry as more employees return to the workplace.

 

“We are asking employers to consult with workers on their individual circumstances, and to be flexible in finding options that will meet the needs of both parents and the employer,” she said.

 

Ms Connaughton also welcomed the figures on remote working but warned there’s a risk in working from home becoming ‘feminised’ and seen as lower-status to that of regular working practices.

 

Gender inequality

 

Previous research by the union-backed Nevin Economic Research Institute showed that the coronavirus has intensified gender inequality in the home as women assume the bulk of caring responsibilities. 

 

Senior economist Lisa Wilson stated access to childcare is a significant issue for many people returning to work as around 40% of workers in Ireland have dependent children:

 

“Our findings revealed that without access to childcare, gendered patterns of care are being replicated during lockdown and in many cases magnified,” she said.

 

The CIPD study also found that 45% of employees have raised physical and mental health concerns with their employers, while 36% are worried about transport to and from the workplace.

 

CIPD Ireland is a representative body for over 6,000 professionals in HR and career development across the State. For more information on the report, click here.

 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Blog: A new social and economic model
by Hazel Gavigan & Niall Shanahan
 

The first of Fórsa’s summer series took place online last Friday (26th June) and examined what a new social and economic model could look like in a post-Covid world.


The first of Fórsa’s summer series took place online last Friday (26th June) and examined what a new social and economic model could look like in a post-Covid world.

 

The panel discussion looked at how the pandemic has challenged people’s common perceptions and preconceptions, outlining the opportunity we now have to devise a new model.

 

Each of the panellists emphasised that now is the time to re-think Ireland’s macro-economic policy and strongly invest in public services, while building on the positives that have emerged from the crisis, such as new remote and flexible work practices.

 

Kevin Callinan called for a reformation of the country’s entire tax system – not just income tax – stating it’s the only way to achieve the kind of public services seen in Northern European states. This sentiment is echoed in Professor Aidan Regan’s column, which is reproduced on forsa.ie with kind permission (see link below). He outlines the history of social dialogue in Ireland and advises that "tax is the Achilles heel" in the Programme for Government.

 

He says it's hard to imagine an investment-led economic recovery that does not take into account the bigger societal challenge of climate change, and that this represents "a real opportunity to radically reform the public sector."

 

Prior to the Covid-19 crisis, Kevin Callinan and the employer body IBEC continued to call for the creation of a new social dialogue to address social and economic challenges in Ireland. Covid-19 brings with it a fresh set of challenges on top of those existing in healthcare, housing and the environment, driving home the need for a new social dialogue model more than ever.

 

To register for future sessions, please contact us HERE.

 

Read Professor Aidan Regan’s full article here: If we want a society like our northern European friends, we need similar taxes

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

Feature Article
Wellness Wednesday: Managing eating habits
by Róisín McKane
 

The next instalment of Fórsa’s new series of five live wellness webinars takes place next Wednesday (8th July) at 1 pm when psychotherapist and emotional eating specialist Emma Murphy talks with rugby pundit and psychotherapist Brent Pope about eating habits.


The next instalment of Fórsa’s new series of five live wellness webinars takes place next Wednesday (8th July) at 1pm when psychotherapist and emotional eating specialist Emma Murphy talks with rugby pundit and psychotherapist Brent Pope about eating habits.

 

The earlier sessions – on parenting in a pandemic and managing anxiety – are now available as a podcasts. Listen back to them HERE and HERE.

 

This is the third in a series of five events brought to you in association with Cornmarket to be broadcast live over the coming weeks. The weekly series features experts on a range of topics from managing anxiety to motivation at work and home.

 

Cornmarket administer two of the union’s salary protection schemes.

 

Wednesday will see disordered eating expert Emma Murphy delve into the world of emotional and binge eating, as we continue to grapple with the upheaval of Covid-19.

 

Structured solutions

 

CEO of Eating Freely Ltd, Emma Murphy is a disordered eating psychotherapist.

 

Also working as a trainer, training other professionals in working with disordered eating clients, Emma has developed a structured and evidence based programme for successfully resolving binge eating disorder.

 

A recipient of an Elevator Award, Emma has received recognition for her contribution to making mental health support more accessible and affordable through online offerings.

 

Broadcaster, psychotherapist and mental health advocate Brent Pope will host the session.

 

The ex-New Zealand rugby player and former professional rugby coach is best known for his work with RTÉ Sport however, the sportsman recently qualified as a psychotherapist and councillor.

 

Brent is also involved in several mental health charities, and is an ambassador for St Patrick's Hospital, Pieta House and Cycle Against Suicide, amongst others.

 

See a short video message from Emma and Brent on why you should tune in HERE.

 

The series was informed by a recent survey which found that 80% of Fórsa members experienced anxiety during the Covid-19 crisis. When asked to name their top five concerns, half of respondents cited mental health and 45% mentioned physical health.

 

Some 29% of us are concerned about our weight and appearance, while almost a quarter (24%) are worried about money. Some 23% expressed unease about parenting.

 

The results reflect the stress of a period when thousands of Fórsa members have stepped up to serve in environments with greater risk of infection, with many more having to rapidly adjust to remote working.

 

Register for ‘Managing our eating habits’ (1pm, Wednesday 1st July) HERE.

 

Get more details on future Fórsa-Cornmarket ‘Wellness Wednesday’ events HERE

 

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

Also in this issue
Congress seeks Taoiseach meeting for ‘just recovery’
by Niall Shanahan
 

ICTU general secretary Patrica King has sought an early meeting with the new Taoiseach, Micháel Martin TD, to discuss the crisis facing workers in Ireland in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

 

In a message to the newly elected Taoiseach wishing him well in his new office, Patricia said workers face an uncertain future. She said Congress has published a blueprint, No Going Back, setting out its plan for a just recovery.

 

She added: “Congress was very disappointed at the absence of any reference to employment rights or trade union recognition in the Programme for Government. 

 

“We are seeking an early meeting so that the voice of workers can be heard as the cabinet commences its work. The principles of justice, equality and fairness must be central to the Government plan.  Workers, many of whom, are often undervalued and underpaid cannot be expected to go to the back of the queue," she said.

 

Recovery plan

The Congress No Going Back recovery plan says the crisis has fundamentally changed the relationship between the state, businesses and workers, and that the “indispensability” of basic services and the welfare state are also being brought into sharp focus.

 

The document says recovery should occur as a gradual and phased unfreezing, alongside a parallel phasing out of government income and liquidity supports. The policy document covers policy in a range of areas including childcare, education, health, workers’ rights, housing, social protection and the need for a ‘new deal’.

 

Separately, Fórsa general secretary and vice-president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Kevin Callinan, has said the new Government is facing a unique set of challenges following the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. He said the new administration would ultimately be more successful in addressing these challenges by engaging in a new programme of social dialogue, bringing together unions and employers to develop shared solutions to the economic and social problems caused, or intensified, by the crisis.

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE.

 

 

Covid-19: Guidance on returning to your workplace
 
Update your contact details
 

You can help us keep you up-to-date with union information, news and advice by checking your contact details and amending them if necessary. If we have your home and personal contact details (personal email, mobile phone number, and home address) we can get information to you quickly and directly. You can update your contact details HERE.

Fórsa: Here to support you
 

Fórsa is here to protect you if you have problems arising from the coronavirus or other workplace issues. The best way to contact the union at this time is HERE.

 

We will deal with queries as quickly as we can but, needless to say, the union will prioritise cases where members’ jobs and incomes are at immediate risk – as well as any serious health and safety issues that may arise.

 

Fórsa has cancelled all face-to-face meetings for the time being. The union is redeploying its staff to prioritise engagement with management on proposals arising from the Covid-19 public health crisis, and to provide rapid and efficient responses to members’ queries and concerns.

 

Fórsa's main phone line (01 817 1500) is now open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively members can use the Contact Us page on the Fórsa website to submit queries directly to the relevant division within Fórsa and this remains the most efficient way to access advice directly.

 

Wherever possible, Fórsa staff have been equipped to work remotely. Therefore, members should not attend Fórsa offices at this time. If you have a query or concern, the best way to raise it is to contact the union HERE.

Join Fórsa online
 

Workers who wish to join Fórsa can to do so using a new ‘join online’ function on the union’s website.

 

Going live with the new system follows several months of research, preparation and testing aimed at making it easier than ever to join the union. It also goes live as the union continues to process a large number of new membership applications, as interest in joining the union has surged since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis.

 

Fórsa’s general secretary Kevin Callinan commented: “The current crisis has created the necessity to be able to carry out our business in different ways. Work on this project had commenced before the Covid-19 crisis took hold, and its completion marks a vital step as we tackle the challenges of living in changed times.

 

“We can see that more people want to join a union in response to what’s happening in the wider economy. It’s vital that they can take those initial steps quickly and easily, and making the membership application process more accessible is part of that process.

 

“This is a crucial new venture to enable Fórsa to substantially increase our membership - and to strengthen the union’s hand - at a critical time in the union’s development,” he said.

 

The online facility is a streamlined and simplified membership application process, and will be the quickest and easiest way to join the union. All incoming applications will continue to be subject to check-off and approval by Fórsa branches and the national executive committee, while the new online system is designed to ease the administrative burden on branches.

 

You can join Fórsa online at https://join.forsa.ie/