“When I retire I won’t have an occupational pension, meaning my current income will almost halve. I’m concerned that if I become ill I’d find it nearly impossible to pay the healthcare costs associated with that.” – Kathleen O’Doherty, school secretary (pictured, speaking at the launch of the campaign in Dublin last Thursday, 17th January).

Pay scales have been updated on the Fórsa website to reflect the third income adjustment under the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA).

The Minister for Education and Skills, Joe McHugh, attended the Fórsa SNA Connaught/Ulster branch AGM on 12th January in Donegal Town.

Fórsa has expressed concern over reports that the Government has withdrawn its support for new legislation to extend unpaid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks per child.

Ireland’s newest university, Technological University Dublin (TUD or ‘TUDublin’) officially came into existence on 1st January 2019.

Fórsa has called for a clear timetable to complete the reorganisation of the county’s education and training boards (ETBs), saying that failure to complete the programme four years after new structures were established is sowing “uncertainty over the future direction of local services.”

Changes to the leaving certificate grading system have negatively impacted on students experiencing educational disadvantage – those who attend DEIS schools – according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

Fórsa’s Health and Welfare Division is advising health staff not to undertake work normally done by nurses if the nursing strike goes ahead from 30th January as expected.

Fórsa’s elected National Executive Committee (NEC) has appointed Kevin Callinan as the union’s senior general secretary designate with effect from 1st January 2019.