Fórsa negotiators have had a preliminary meeting with representatives of council employers to discuss the sectoral bargaining clause of the new public service agreement.

Building Momentum, which was overwhelmingly endorsed by Fórsa members last month, establishes a ‘sectoral bargaining fund,’ worth 1% of basic pay, on top of two general round pay adjustments worth 1% each.

The sectoral fund 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 sectoral bargaining process first requires both sides to identify the different groups of grades and staff categories that will be subject to negotiations. Once these ‘sectoral bargaining units’ are agreed, work can begin on how the additional 1% of pay will be distributed through sectoral bargaining.

Fórsa told the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), which represents council employers ,that it’s currently in internal consultations about the make-up of the sectoral bargaining units. It also pointed to a number of outstanding adjudications for grades in the sector, which could be considered as part of the sectoral bargaining process.

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.

Haddington Road hours

Separately, discussions are intensifying on the establishment of an independent body charged with addressing the so-called ‘Haddington Road hours,’ which are also being addressed under Building Momentum.

The body, which is to be set up by the end of this month, 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.

Fórsa fought hard for the inclusion of the process in Building Momentum. As a result, workers whose hours were increased under the Haddington Road deal can expect to see reductions in working time from next year.