Dear members,  

As this new year begins, I have been reflecting on how the bonds we share as union members shape our identities as individuals and our strength as a collective. When you join the union, you become part of a branch, a division, perhaps also a professional committee, and most importantly you join a community of 97,000 members who have your back. While we join as individual workers, through our membership we become stronger as a collective. By standing together, we amplify each other’s voices and create the conditions for all of us to be more than the sum of our parts. 

Fórsa may be a young union but our roots reach way back throughout the history of the Irish trade union movement, and our collective achievements over the past twelve months have shown that our union will continue to be a vital force for workers into the future. 

From a high-profile seven-day strike by school secretaries and caretakers, to union recognition agreements with employers that had previously refused to engage, to pay agreements for workers in Pobal, Barnardos, the IAA and for CE scheme supervisors to name but a few, and raising the alarm about the staffing crisis in the health sector, we have delivered real, meaningful results for members. You can read more about last year’s highlights here.  

This year already, our members working in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) roles in local authorities, and clinical measurement physiologists in the Health Service Executive (HSE) have served notice of industrial action in long-running disputes. 

While disputes may be our bread and butter, our focus on our future strength will not waver. A core part of our mission is to build power and grow in strength, density and size. I am proud that we are now within touching distance of hitting 100,000 members, with sustained growth over the past two years, as reported at the start of the year by The Irish Times. 

This year we will undoubtedly face new challenges, many of which may be caused by decisions made far from our shores. A key priority for me this year will be ensuring that public servants are not caught in the headwinds of changing geopolitical circumstances or used as a political football domestically.  

We know that the cost-of-living crisis continues to be felt harshly, and that the roll-back on remote work is a cause of serious concern for members. Indeed, in last year’s survey of members nearly three out of four members (73%) said their standard of living has worsened and a majority told us that protection of remote and flexible work is their most important issue after pay.  

Demonstrating our strength and unity of purpose in the months ahead will be essential as the current Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 expires in June, after two final pay increases, due on 1st February (1% or €500, whichever is greater) and on 1st June (1%).

The survey results informed the development of our ‘A Better Deal’ campaign, which in turn lays out our ambitious agenda for the next pay talks. We’ll be fighting for real pay rises above inflation, resolution of local bargaining claims, a fair work-life balance, targeted investment in public healthcare and housing.   

Using the local bargaining clause of the current agreement we have negotiated tangible results for members in the civil service, who voted to accept proposals which will shorten the journey through pay scales. We will now move to negotiating similar agreements in linked grades and groups in the public sector and press for discussions on all outstanding claims. 

The beginning of the year coincides with AGM season. I encourage all members to look out for information about their upcoming branch AGM and attend. Whether you are a recent member or have been in the union for years, and even if you have never been to a branch meeting, please do go along to the AGM, and consider putting yourself forward to join your branch committee. It could be the first step towards a lifetime of union activism, or simply a way to make new friends. Either way it will shape your future identity as an individual, and as part of our collective endeavour.  

There is much work ahead of us, but as the saying goes, many hands make light work. Together we have already achieved so much, and I know that much more lies ahead. 

Beir Bua, 

Kevin Callinan 
General Secretary 

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.