Better In a Trade Union is an all-island campaign which aims to ensure that all working people are aware of the benefits of being part of a trade union, and the strength of being part of a collective, representing and negotiating as a group of employees rather than as individuals.

Created by ICTU, this ambitious campaign features real trade union members talking about the benefits of trade union membership, in their own words.

The campaign seeks to profile the diverse nature of trade union members in Ireland, and the benefits that trade unions bring not only to members, but to society in general.

The members featured in the campaign talk in their own words about the benefits of being in a trade union, what it means to them, and how being in a union improves their working life. Fórsa members Isabella De Luca and Chris Cawley took part, and you can watch their videos on the Better in a Trade Union website.

The campaign will launch publicly on the 14^th of February 2024, with events in Dublin and Belfast, and will run until the end of April, culminating with the first ever Union Week, a celebration of progressive change taking place around May Day.

Union Week will be an exciting focal point for members to get involved in the campaign. We’re asking Fórsa branches and members to hold Union Week events in their workplace or region. These events could be coffee mornings, table quizzes, fun runs, seminars or concerts.

The idea is to encourage participation and activism amongst current union members and create an opportunity to encourage workers who aren’t yet members to join.

In the weeks ahead the union will be in touch with further details and information on how to order a Union Week materials pack.

With the Better in a Trade Union campaign, we are inviting prospective trade union members to be part of something bigger, so get involved and help us send a powerful message to the people of Ireland, that we are all better in a trade union.

The more members we have in the trade union movement the stronger we are, and the greater our  influence to push for the rights and benefits of working people across the island of Ireland.

The campaign can be followed on social media, and we would encourage our members and activists to follow, like, and share posts to help increase reach. Check out the campaign website for more information.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.

The continuing recruitment freeze in the HSE risks increasing waiting times for patients, demoralising staff and providing poor value for public money. That’s according to an internal draft document produced by the HSE.

In media reports this week the HSE’s draft report - Budget 2024: Requirement to Cease Recruitment for Approved Development Posts – nevertheless insists on the financial need to continue the pause on recruitment.

The findings are revealed as Fórsa’s industrial action in response to the recruitment freeze continues, leading to the cancellation of several regional health forums, in addition to delays to answers to parliamentary questions and ministerial representations.

Fórsa and the HSE are due to return to the WRC early next month.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan wrote to the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil, Séan Ó Fearghaíl, this week, in response to correspondence about delays in the political system because of the industrial action.

Kevin said: “It should be noted that the Minister and the HSE have attempted to characterise the growth in clerical and administration staffing levels as excessive. However, they fail to draw attention to the fact that the growth is largely explained by the conversion of staff who were employed during the pandemic to normal status.

“These staff are necessary to support the delivery of health services. A failure to provide for replacements will only add to the already discredited and expensive recourse to outsourcing and consultancy on the part of the HSE,” he said.

Fórsa’s head of Health and Welfare, Ashley Connolly, said the union had campaigned last year to highlight that the HSE was “burning through tens of millions in cash on external consultants and agency staff” putting the health body into the grip of another series of cost overruns.

She added: “Our members have responded to the recruitment freeze with a precise and measured form of industrial action designed and directed to frustrate senior management, that can be felt by the political system, while minimising the effect on patients and other service users.

“The blunt instrument of a moratorium on recruitment – blocking posts already sanctioned in last year’s service plan – does the opposite.

“It hurts patients, staff and other service users, while letting senior management off the hook, and quietly mollifies the political system by being able to claim a reduction in costs. The HSE’s approach to its self-inflicted problems is - in any fair analysis – untenable,” she said.

Ashley said Fórsa remains committed to a negotiated solution and would return to the Workplace Relations Commission next month to attempt to resolve the current impasse, and ensure members are not overwhelmed by a shortage of staff in their workplaces.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.

Earlier this week Fórsa and UNISON co-hosted a conference examining The State of Healthcare on the Island of Ireland. Supported by the Shared Island Unit of the Department of the Taoiseach, the event saw experts from both North and South of the border discuss the often-common issues facing both services, and the opportunities presented by North-South cooperation for building services for members, communities, and the public.

Delegates were jointly welcomed by Clodagh Kavanagh, chair of Fórsa’s Health and Welfare Division, and Deborah Yapicioz, joint chair of UNISON’s Health Service Group, where they emphasised the importance of cross border collaboration and the looming dangers of privatisation. Professor Sir Michael Marmot then spoke in detail about the politics of healthcare.

Joint chairpersons Patricia McKeown, Regional Secretary for UNISON NI, and Kevin Callinan, Fórsa General Secretary opened day two. Patricia’s remarks included dire warnings against privatisation as well as an entreaty that “We should not be making profit on people's lives, people's wellbeing, and people's health."

Kevin Callinan focussed on the necessity for workers’ voices to be heard if we are to create the best healthcare system we possibly can, saying “The voices of ordinary people working in the health service are not heard enough and it certainly isn't valued enough.”

Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media also addressed the opening session. He underlined how critical our medical workforce are critical to the successful delivery of healthcare, as well as the need for “better collaboration across this island on health care provision”.

Fórsa’s Head of Health and Welfare Ashley Connolly joined fellow panellists Paul MacFlynn, NERI, John-Patrick Clayton, UNISON NI Policy Officer, and Professor Kathleen Lynch, Professor Emeritus UCD, to look more closely at the privatisation of public health services.

During her address, Ashley questioned the language often used when discussing healthcare.

“We must challenge the language that is often used. For example, ‘efficiencies’ - what does that really mean? Is it focused on reducing costs and perceived value for money? But what if efficiency was about meeting the needs of the most disadvantaged people?” she said.

The afternoon saw spirited contributions from delegates as they explored the topic of healthcare as a democracy. National Secretary Linda Kelly was joined by Professor Lourda Geoghegan, Deputy Chief Medical Officer in NI, Liam Woods, Director of Shared Services HSE, Patricia McKeown, Regional Secretary for UNISON NI, and Evan Bates of The Royal Hospitals Group, where the need for consultation and collaboration were at the crux of the debate.

In her address Linda summed up the heart of the discussion.  “Your voice must be heard, your experience must be valued, your ideas must be implemented. Only then can we say we have achieved healthcare as democracy,” she said.

The conference ended with a workshop where delegates from both unions delved into what they wanted to see happen in healthcare across the island, and how best to ensure those outcomes through collective action with, and between, the unions.

The State of Healthcare on the Island of Ireland conference represented the first step of a renewed focus on cooperation between Fórsa and UNISON, a relationship which began before the good Friday agreement.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.

As Annual General Meeting (AGM) season ramps up, we’ve created a handy Fórsa AGM toolkit to support branches in getting the word out and mobilising participation.

What’s in the Fórsa AGM toolkit?

Posters

This set of posters are designed to be printed locally, with space left for you to write in the exact details of each meeting. There’s even a handy QR code to encourage easy sign ups. You can download them here.

Membership Benefits Leaflet

We also have a new membership benefits leaflet which branches can print locally. It outlines all the advantages of joining Fórsa, and can serve as both a recruitment tool, and a reminder for current members. The leaflet has been emailed to branch secretaries and is available to download here.

Guide on how to run an online AGM

In response to requests received from branches we have also produced a downloadable PDF on running online AGMs. This resource delves into key strategies and best practices for running successful online meetings. The guide also provides practical tips for managing participant engagement, handling technical glitches, and fostering productive proceedings.

Preparing For Fórsa Conference

Finally, this guide will help you prepare for conference at your AGM by including guidelines for drafting motions, and templates for your AGM documents.

The full toolkit is available here for download.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.

Leading organizations in healthcare safety, Fórsa and the European Biosafety Network (EBN), along with the Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland and the National Association of Hospital Pharmacy Technicians have teamed up for a joint summit on the risks involved when working with Hazardous Medicinal Products (HMPs). The free event takes place in Fórsa HQ on Tuesday 30^th January 2024.

HMPs pose potential risks to healthcare workers at various stages from manufacturing to administration, causing health issues ranging from headaches to severe conditions like cancer.

The event will explore practical measures to promote best practice and foster a culture of shared knowledge when it comes to HMPs and other dangerous drugs, often used to treat cancer, viruses, and other life-threatening conditions.

The panel will see Dr. Tony Musu and Dr. Paul Sessink present insights into new European legislation, including an EU list of HMPs and guidelines on safe handling, with discussions on their practical implementation and transposition in Ireland.

Ian Lindsley will unveil survey results on Irish healthcare workers' awareness and engagement in preventive measures. Darren Arkins from the Health and Safety Authority will respond, providing a regulatory perspective.

Dr. Paul Sessink will present a case study on best practices in handling HMPs, followed by a panel discussion featuring representatives from healthcare associations, addressing the upcoming changes to Irish legislation and guidance.

The summit will conclude with a summary of key findings and a call to action led by Fórsa national secretary Linda Kelly, calling for collective efforts to mitigate occupational exposure risks.

Secure your place at “Preventing occupational exposure to Hazardous Medicinal Products (HMPs)” on Tuesday, January 30th, 2024 via Eventbrite. Registration from 9:30 am with refreshments to 3:00 pm at Fórsa, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1.  Attendees are responsible for travel costs.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.

Talks that began yesterday morning at 11am, continued through the night, and into this morning, Friday 26th January. A deal has been negotiated. The PSC negotiators will brief affiliate unions at 10am this morning. 

After that meeting concludes Fórsa will contact members with further information later today.

Unions and Government representatives returned to the WRC yesterday following an invitation to meet under its auspices and to formally update the Commission on their respective positions.

Fórsa members working in the public sector and state agencies stand to benefit from the agreement.

Talks were put on hold earlier this month after a pay offer by the Government side failed to take into account the increasing gap between wages and the rising cost of living. Talks were then paused to allow for reflection.

During this period the officers of the Public Services Committee continued to brief affiliate unions who approved wording for a ballot on industrial action if talks failed.

The four officers of the Public Services Committee of the ICTU are:
 
•    Chair: Kevin Callinan, general secretary, Fórsa
•    Secretary: John King, deputy general secretary, SIPTU
•    Vice chair: John Boyle, general secretary, INTO
•    Vice chair: Phil Ní Sheaghdha, general secretary, INMO

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.

Start the new year off by making your health a priority and making the most of the Fórsa’s partnership with Cornmarket.

A series of free health insurance webinars have been organised by Cornmarket for Fórsa members, designed to demystify insurance coverage, while thousands of invites to potentially lifesaving free breast or prostrate health appointments have been extended to members.

Fórsa's director of membership Seán McElhinney will kick off the health insurance sessions, providing an overview, while Dermot Goode, a guru in the world of healthcare benefits will use his years of experience at VHI, BUPA Ireland, and Cornmarket to navigate topics like inquiring about renewal, decoding the Upgrade Rule and optimising your plan. There will be an opportunity to seek out some personalised advice through a live Q&A too. You can register here.

“Whether you're navigating the intricacies of health insurance for the first time or seeking insights on cost-saving strategies during your renewal period, these webinars aim to address your concerns. This collaboration presents an excellent chance for Fórsa members to enhance their understanding of health insurance, guided by approachable experts,” said Seán McElhinney.

Tackling cancer is also at the forefront of the joint work between Fórsa and Cornmarket, with Dublin GAA stars Leah Caffrey and James McCarty rolling up their sleeves as part of the Pink and Blue Power Programme for Members of the Fórsa Salary Protection Scheme.

The last programme in 2019 was launched in response to the high level of cancer claims in the scheme. The statistics are harsh: prostate cancer affects one out of every seven men, while breast cancer affects one out of every nine women. At the time sadly, five Fórsa members were diagnosed with many sent for further tests.

"This is vital stuff," Seán McElhinney emphasised. "It’s an opportunity for a physical examination with a GP and a referral if necessary. The invitations are being issued in phases throughout January, May, and July."

Pink & Blue Power is a benefit of the Fórsa Salary Protection Scheme. Not a member of the Scheme? Visit cornmarket.ie/forsa for more on benefits and how to apply. The last health care seminar is taking place on Wednesday 31st January and registration is available here.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.

A symposium on the experiences of essential workers during COVID-19 was held in UCD last week. The event built on a survey by the Nevin Economic Research Institute(NERI), which looked at how the pandemic impacted essential workers.

The event addressed which jobs were deemed ‘essential’, the workers’ experiences, and the impact COVID-19 had on them. It also tackled the questions of how the State has served these workers since and what could be improved.

One of the main takeaways from the survey was the gendered impact of COVID-19 on essential workers. 45% of female essential workers experienced a high risk of exposure compared to 28% of male workers.

The other result of note was that those with union representation felt their concerns about workplace safety were addressed more than those without. The EU directive on collective bargaining was cited as one way to increase this type of protection, in preparation for future similar crises.

The INMO’s General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, spoke on the gendered impact of the pandemic on essential workers, as well the experiences of migrant healthcare staff, who often lacked family for childcare and other supports. She also spoke about the narrowness of how we view healthcare in Ireland, saying “The funding of the health service should be seen as an investment in keeping people well.”

The symposium also heard from Dr Tony Holohan, former Chief Medical Officer. Speaking at the event he said: “During the pandemic, we were all in it together, or at least we should have been. Today shows us that we have some way to go on this.” He touched on issues from migration to climate change, and on the need to holistically measure our success and not solely focus on economic measures such as GDP.

The full report from NERI can be found here.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.

Members can now register for the Fórsa Global Solidarity Spring School, which will take place on the 1st and 2nd of March 2024, in Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1.

The event will provide a unique opportunity for interested members to discuss a range of international, trade union and human rights issues. Participants will hear about projects that the Fórsa actively fund across the world, and it will also be an opportunity to learn about the union’s global solidarity work. Delegates can also enjoy a social event on the Friday evening.

The two-day event will kick off on Friday 1^st March from 4.30pm and will feature panel discussions and guest speakers on topics including the war on Palestine, the rise of the far right, and the global fight for trade unions, amongst others.

With speakers including Paapa Danquah, Legal Director from the ITUC, Niamh McDonald from the Hope and Courage Collective, and Ciarán O’Connor from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, the event promises to be exciting and engaging.

Spaces are limited so members are encouraged to register early. You can register for the school here.

Meals will be provided, and attendees who require accommodation can avail of a Fórsa negotiated rate of €155 B&B at the Dublin One Hotel. Bookings should be made through Hotel Solutions by contacting marily@hotel-solutions.ie. This rate is available for a limited time only. (Note: A credit or debit card will be required on booking. Branches must book and pay for their delegates accommodation.)

If you have any queries, you can email them to internationalsolidarity@forsa.ie , and we look forward to welcoming you to the next Global Solidarity Spring School.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.

On Thursday 25th January Fórsa supported a demonstration at Dáil Éireann calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The event was organised by a group of healthcare workers who had drafted an open letter to the government on the current crisis in the area.

Workers from all health disciplines signed the letter which was presented to politicians in attendance outside Leinster House. The letter highlighted the serious humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region and called on the Irish government to take a more active role in addressing the situation.

The petition stated “We call on Ireland, as a party to the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention, to act in line with her values and the specific obligation to prevent genocide.”

The grassroots campaign group was formed earlier this year and collected the signatures of over 1,000 healthcare workers in just two days.

Speakers at the event highlighted their disappointment with Ireland’s response to date and described a lack of action by government as being unacceptable.

Fórsa member of the Dublin Care Services branch Mark Kerins said: “We sent a letter to government ministers to ask for a ceasefire and also to support the South African case in the International Criminal Court.

“I'm proud to be here as a trade union member, as a health care worker, and support the healthcare workers in Gaza. It's important the union gets behind us to use our power and numbers to enact change not just in our society, but also in solidarity with other people around the globe.”

You can read the full letter here.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.