Fórsa is close to concluding its position on the formation of health and care sector bargaining units under the sectoral bargaining provisions of the new public service agreement, Building Momentum.

The agreement establishes a ‘sectoral bargaining fund’ worth 1% of basic pay, on top of two general round pay adjustments worth 1% each. It can be used to deal with outstanding adjudications, recommendations and claims relevant to specific groups of workers within the local authority sector. Or groups can opt to take the 1% as a straight pay increase.

The first step is to identify the different groups of grades and staff categories. The union’s Health and Welfare Division executive agreed an approach, which includes Tusla, last month, and all the professional committees in the sector were consulted at a forum meeting on 25th March.

The approach to clerical and administrative grades III to VII will be common across the civil and public service, as large numbers of staff work in these grades in the civil service, local authorities and education, as well as health.

The other bargaining units will be for management and admin grades, many of which are unique to the health sector, health and social care professionals, professional grades, social work and social care.

The social work and social care professions have been placed in a separate unit as a high proportion of the services span across the HSE, Túsla and other related agencies.

Once these ‘sectoral bargaining units’ are agreed with management, work will begin on how the additional 1% of pay will be distributed through sectoral bargaining.

Agreement on the shape of the sectoral bargaining groups is meant to be concluded by the end of next month. Payment of any sectoral awards is scheduled for 1st February 2022.

Discussions on the establishment of an independent body charged with addressing the so-called ‘Haddington Road hours’ are also underway. The body will take submissions from management and unions representing grades whose hours were increased under the 2013 Haddington Road deal.

It will make recommendations by the end of 2021. Rollout of these recommendations will begin within the lifetime of the agreement, with €150 million available to commence implementation during 2022.