The second phase of the transition of school secretaries to the new packages of pay and working conditions is due to kick off soon.

Earlier this year school secretaries voted overwhelmingly to accept an historic new package of proposals which placed them all on public service salary rates after a decades-long campaign for pay equity.

The deal, negotiated by Fórsa, significantly improves incomes and paid leave arrangements for low-paid secretaries, who the union says have been overlooked and undervalued for years.

The new agreement saw all school secretaries transfer to a new pay-scale aligned with the public service clerical officer scale. Prior to this, most of them were employed directly by schools, with most earning no more than the minimum wage.

Fórsa said the first phase of the official transition to the new payscales is almost over, and the union is preparing for the second shift.

For the first time, the agreement will also see salaries averaged over 52 weeks, including the cash value of job seekers benefit, which means secretaries will no longer have to sign on for unemployment benefits during school holidays.

The deal also enshrined 22 days paid leave a year, as well as payment for ten public holidays. This replaces ad-hoc arrangements, which left many school secretaries with no paid holidays.

Head of Fórsa’s education division Andy Pike said the provision of paid leave is already benefiting many members “who had never received any paid holiday entitlement”.

“This deal ensured that, for the first time, secretaries no longer had to sign on for unemployment benefits during school holidays. This was a significant step and a rewarding win for the union - to see it in practice already for our members.”

New Pay Award

Andy also said he was pleased to report that the secretaries’ incomes would now benefit from the public sector pay awards. Which means they would see the increases awarded under the newly negotiation revised Building Momentum deal in their pay packets.

“This was only possible as all school secretaries were on the Department of Education payroll system with standardised pay arrangements across all schools,” said Andy.

He also stressed the importance of collective bargaining in achieving these pay improvements and announced that the membership for the education division had now surpassed 17,500 members.

You can get details on the new pay proposals HERE.

Fórsa has called for the abolition of the Statutory Special Needs Assistant Scheme and its replacement with a national SNA service with staff allocated to every school, in its latest presentation to the Oireachtas Committee on Autism policy and education.

The union said this would end the uncertainty for students and staff as to the continuation of Special Needs Assistants (SNA) supports year to year.

The union made a number of recommendations on matters relating to the services and supports provided by the State for Autistic people in its recent presentation Committee on Tuesday (4th October).

Andy Pike, National Secretary for the Education Division and Linda Kelly, National Secretary in the Health and Welfare Division made a joint representation on behalf of the union to outline the key recommendations needed to be implemented to improve the delivery of services.

In its submission Fórsa also criticised the Government’s decision against introducing Frontloading at the start of the 2022/23 school year.

The “Frontloading” mechanism would have allocated SNAs to schools based on the same criteria as SET allocations.

The union said if the system was implemented across the school system Autistic students would then be able to access SNA support without a formal assessment of need or a recognised diagnosis from a healthcare professional. This would transform service delivery massively for students requiring support.

Fórsa said this approach would also have facilitated more Autistic students transitioning into Mainstream provision from Special Classes and in theory would provide a more inclusive educational experience.

Andy said the Government’s approach to delivering an inclusive school system has been disjointed, confused, and marked by a failure to deliver on key policy commitments.

Fórsa recommended that if the Government was to proceed with measures to deliver inclusive education many other issues will have to be addressed in a strategic manner including proper workforce planning to ensure the right people are in the right place to deliver the services that are needed.

The union further recommended the availability of a comprehensive School Nursing and support service to each school delivered through the NCSE at regional level.

No real increase in support

In his briefing Andy also said mainstream classes had not seen any real increase in support as no assessments have been carried out since 2020.

“SNA allocations have in effect been frozen since 2019 in Mainstream classes. Where new posts have been provided, these have been in recognition of the opening of new Special Classes in Mainstream schools and recognition that new developing schools require resources.

“Whilst the Government decided against introducing Frontloading, the guidance on conducting in-school assessments was not withdrawn. This has led to confusion with some schools now conducting their own assessment of the additional care needs of students, whilst other schools are not doing so as they will not be provided with any increase in resources,” said Andy.

“For Autistic students and their families accessing places in Mainstream schools is now extremely difficult," he said.

Fórsa maintained that some schools need to change their organisational culture, to embrace more diversity, including neuro diversity, and highlighted the reluctance to expand Mainstream provision for Autistic students based on concerns that academic standards might be detrimentally affected.

“Fórsa believes such views need to be successfully challenged if we are to make progress toward full inclusion in our schools,” said Andy.

The union also stressed that the concept of an inclusive school was achievable.

“It requires absolute clarity of purpose from Government, with clear and deliverable policy objectives. It requires recognition that some school leaders do not want to offer places to students with additional care needs,” said Andy.

“No student, no family when making an application for a place should ever be told that ‘this is not that type of school’ or ‘we just don’t have the skills or resources to offer you a place’. Schools will all need to upskill, to change mindset and have to be properly funded and resourced to meet the needs of all students with additional care needs including Autistic students the union told the Committee,” he added.

Some of the other recommendations to the Committee included working with Stakeholders to agree a robust redeployment scheme for SNAs to ensure the right staff are in the right place to deliver the service; ensuring that the SNA workforce is properly trained and qualified to meet the need of students; continued accreditation of the National SNA Training Programme, modernisation of the minimum essential qualification for SNAs and accreditation at least at QQI Level 6; and finally the facilitation of each student with a pathway to Mainstream Class provision if it is right for them and if it is appropriate.

You can watch back the union’s briefing to the Committee HERE.

Fórsa has strongly condemned IBEC’s objection to the introduction of paid leave for workers who are victims of domestic violence, citing it as “distrustful and deeply insulting”.

Last month, the Government rubber-stamped the publication of the Work Life Balance Bill in a move welcomed by Fórsa. Once enacted, those who are suffering or at risk of domestic violence will be entitled to five days of paid leave each year. The Government has also pledged to help employers provide better support for employees experiencing domestic violence.

In a submission to Government IBEC argued that employers should be allowed to ask for “proof” to stop any “potential abuse” of paid leave to those suffering with domestic abuse.

It also claimed that Government was trying to introduce too much paid leave at once, citing extending parental leave and the introduction of statutory sick pay, which would put a strain on SMEs.

The head of Fórsa’s Health and Welfare division Ashley Connolly, who has led the union’s campaign on this issue, strongly criticised this position.

“IBEC has completely missed the point. This legislation should not impose barriers for those navigating a pathway out of domestic abuse. Survivors of abuse should feel supported in their workplace, which is often a place of safety for them. We must support them and there should be no requirements for proof which would discourage take-up of the entitlement,” she said.

Ashley said this long-awaited leave is a vital support for survivors to assist them in making essential changes such as moving out of a violent situation, seeking legal support, and organising care for dependents.

“Our message is loud and clear, Fórsa stands with those suffering at the hands of domestic violence. We trust these survivors. We believe the workplace should be a safe space, a place where the stigma and the shame can be left at the door. Financial independence from abusers is the key to escaping and building a better life and workers should not need to prove abuse to an employer,” she said.

Fórsa is looking to open formal discussions with the Department of Education and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on an agreement in respect of salaries and various leave entitlements for grant paid caretakers.

The agreement will be set upon the same path as that won by Fórsa for school secretaries, which secured access to public service pay scales and a minimum standard of terms and conditions for grant paid secretaries.

This agreement will be delivered in three phases, with the first enacted as of the 30^{th of} September. This saw the workers’ pay-scale become aligned with the clerical officer scale in education. As a result, the union can now turn its attention to commencing the same process for caretakers.

Whilst there is an agreement in principle and a clear framework to follow to achieve this goal, there are items that will require further discussions with the Department such as defining the correct pay scale to be use. There are also items for consideration that would not have featured in secretaries’ discussions, such as on-call, or call-out.

An inaugural annual general meeting (AGM) of caretakers will take place on the 12^th of November with a view to progressing discussions. This will see a formal branch committee elected who will be heavily involved in these negotiations. Fórsa will be updating members with information on the AGM.

Fórsa official Shane Lambert thanked caretakers for their patience and issued a ‘call to action’ for all its members.

“For too long school caretakers have been undervalued, underpaid and under-protected.  We have seen what can be achieved when we act collectively and come together, organising in numbers to build strength. The secretaries’ branch has continued to go from strength to strength in the months since the proposals were balloted upon and further enhancements have been achieved to the proposals, which see sick leave and working patterns protected as a result,” he said.

Shane urged all caretakers to “get active, get engaged and get involved”.

“Whilst we appreciate that there is a degree of urgency given the pressures that all workers are facing on foot of the cost-of-living crises, we need to ensure that we take all the necessary steps and do things the right way to achieve the best outcome for all caretaking members going forward,” he said.

“We are calling on all caretakers to get active, get engaged and get involved with your new branch when it is formed, advise other caretaking colleagues and friends to do likewise and if you know of some who have not yet joined the union, tell them to do so urgently.”

Non-union employers could potentially face penalties for failing to negotiate with trade unions following the publication of the final report of the high-level working group on collective bargaining last week.

The Group was established last year by the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) in advance of a new EU directive that requires each member state to take action to expand the percentage of workers covered by collective bargaining on wage setting.

Collective bargaining coverage in Ireland is currently around 34%, the new directive requires that countries achieve up to 80% coverage.

Speaking at the Industrial Relations News (IRN) conference last week, ICTU general secretary Patricia King, the trade union representative on the high-level group, said the recommendations in the report will, through increased collective bargaining coverage, “provide new opportunities to achieve decent working and living standards for hundreds of thousands of workers, and deliver improved outcomes for workers and employers, as well as for society and the economy as a whole.”

Patricia said the Executive Council of the ICTU has endorsed the recommendations and believes them to be crucial to aligning Irish industrial relations procedures with other EU countries. The group’s recommendations will form the basis for the transposition of the directive to comply with EU law, including:

• That existing legislation relating to Joint Labour Committees (JLCs) be strengthened to enable an Employment Regulation Order to be implemented on foot of employers being afforded all reasonable opportunity to engage
• That technical assessors be appointed by the Labour Court to advise the Court in pay comparison claims with the purpose of improving on current mechanisms
• That legislation requires an employer to engage with a trade union who seeks good faith engagement where they represent at least 10% of workers in a grade group or category within the employment. Where an employer refuses such an engagement and ignores the Labour Court decisions on the matter, the trade union can seek a Circuit Court order for implementation against the employer.

ICTU president and Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said the report’s recommendations illustrated the potential for radically improved collective bargaining conditions in Ireland: “These recommendations have the potential to strengthen the collective bargaining environment that we operate in. Unions must continue to take on the challenge of building membership density so that, in this new era of collective bargaining, they can be a strong and agile force for improved worker outcomes.

“I think the process of developing the report has illustrated what can be achieved when government, employers and unions work collaboratively toward more positive outcomes. In that context, the report’s recommendations have the potential to radically improve Ireland’s industrial relations landscape,” he said.

The Group comprised representatives from ICTU, IBEC and Professor Bill Roche, UCD. It was chaired by Professor Michael Doherty of Maynooth University.

You can download a full copy of the report HERE.

Fórsa has broadly welcomed the news that Government has approved a bill to introduce a long-awaited auto-enrolment pension scheme.

Earlier this week social protection minister, Heather Humphreys announced details of “Final Design Principles for the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System in Ireland”. The bill will now go before the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection for Pre-Legislative scrutiny ahead of its expected introduction in early 2024.

Once enacted, workers will be automatically enrolled in a pension plan which will be co-funded by their employer, but can opt out if they choose. The new system is designed to simplify the pensions decision for workers and make it easier for employers to offer a workplace pension.

It is expected that around 750,000 people will be automatically enrolled into the system, and those enrolled will have their pension savings matched by the government and by their employer on a one-for-one basis. The State will also provide a top-up of €1 for every €3 saved by the worker.

ICTU social policy officer, Laura Bambrick, has welcomed the implementation but highlighted some concerns in the design.

“While ICTU has concerns over some of the details of the draft design of the new pension saving scheme, unions have long called for concrete action by Government to address the alarming low levels of pension coverage in the private sector and to have a legal obligation put on employers to contribute to their workers’ income in retirement, as is the case in all other OECD countries.

“To be clear, auto-enrolment is not a replacement for the State pension, it is intended to supplement your income from the State pension, as is the case with all other occupational pension schemes. This is especially important in Ireland where the State pension is not earnings related and so workers solely reliant on a State pension will experience a big drop in their income, and in turn their living standards, in old age,” she said.

Public service pay scales are currently being amended to reflect an increase of 1% of gross pay, or €500 a year, whichever is the greater, effective from 1st October.

The pay adjustment was due under the existing terms of the Building Momentum agreement, negotiated by Fórsa and other unions last year and overwhelmingly accepted in a ballot of Fórsa members in early 2021.

Last week Fórsa announced that members had backed the review of Building Momentum, with just over 91% of members voting in favour.

Their overwhelming endorsement meant that Fórsa supported ratification of the revised public service pay measures by the ICTU Public Services Committee (PSC), which represents all affiliated unions with members in the civil and public service. The deal was unanimously supported by the PSC unions.

The pay deal will see pay increases of 3% backdated to 2nd February 2022. It’s expected that the pay adjustment will take effect over the November/December period.

A further 2% will fall due from 1st March 2023, and 1.5% or €750 (whichever is the greater) from 1st October 2023.

The minimum payment of €750 a year from next October means the package would be worth 8% to a worker earning €25,000 a year and 7% to a person on €37,500 a year.

PSC chair and ICTU president Kevin Callinan said the strong showing in favour of the pay deal reflects a recognition by workers that the pay measures will be a helpful support to people at a critical time.

The revised measures emerged from a review process necessitated by the surge in inflation, and the ongoing cost of living crisis, and followed negotiations between public service unions and the Government at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Kevin added: “Unions do expect to be back in negotiations next year to secure pay terms beyond the lifetime of the current agreement, which will expire at the end of 2023, and unions will of course continue to closely monitor living costs and income pressures.”

Public service pay scales published on the Fórsa website will be updated in the coming weeks.

Fórsa would like to extend its deepest condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones in the Creeslough accident.

The union would also like to extend its thoughts to those currently receiving medical treatment and wishes them a speedy recovery.

In a message to union members Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said “We mourn for those who have lost their lives and offer our deepest condolences and solidarity to those who have lost loved ones or been injured.

“Fórsa and its members across the country stand behind the victims of this terrible tragedy. We across the island are all deeply affected by the tragic event in Creeslough, but the unimaginable grief of the families of the bereaved as well as the entire community simply cannot be put into words.

“What has also struck me deeply is how the local community has banded together at this time of crisis and their resilient response is testament to the strength of this incredibly close-knit town.

“Our members across the country hold the brave community of Creeslough in our thoughts, along with the emergency, rescue and medical workers engaged in the response," said Kevin.

Our deepest sympathies also go out specifically to the Donegal branches.

Fórsa acknowledges and extends its sincere thanks to all the outstanding emergency officers and responders that helped in the rescue efforts.

Our thoughts are with the bereaved, their families, friends and with the community of Creeslough in this tragic time.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha

Fórsa’s Global Solidarity Autumn School will take place on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th November in Nerney’s Court, Dublin.

The school will provide a unique opportunity for interested members to discuss a range of international, trade union and human rights issues.

Delegates will ahear about projects that Fórsa actively fund across the world, and it will also be an opportunity to hear about the union’s global solidarity work.

More information on the event can be found HERE and members can register their interest to attend HERE.

Fórsa will soon launch a new book documenting the history of the Civil, Public and Services Union (CPSU).

Published by the Institute of Public Administration with Fórsa, ‘Fighting for the Clerical Grades’ A History of the Civil, Public and Services Union 1922-2017 charts the progress of the organisation representing civil service clerical grades, from its roots in the late nineteenth century, to its merger with IMPACT and the PSEU in the formation of Fórsa in 2018.

Researched and written by historian Martin Maguire it is an outstanding contribution to history of our public service unions and to Irish labour history generally and will prove essential reading for Union activists.

Fórsa are to host the Heads of Unit (HOU) from the European Labour Authority (ELA) today, as part of their visit Ireland. The HOU’s are set to meet with ICTU and its affiliates.

The HOU’s work directly to the executive director of the ELA, Cosmin Boliangiu.

The ELA was established to help strengthen fairness and trust in the internal market by assisting member States and the European Commission to ensure that EU rules on labour mobility and social security coordination are fairly and effectively enforced, and by making it easier for citizens and businesses to obtain the benefits of the internal market.

General secretary of Fórsa and president of ICTU Kevin Callinan will chair the meeting, which will involve a presentation from the ELA, followed by a discussion, with the opportunity to present to them.

The delegation will include head of the co-operation support unit Malcom Scicluna,  national liaison officer for Ireland Daniel Losty, and Irene Mandl, head of information and the European network of employment services unit.

Fórsa, which represents thousands of workers in the community and voluntary sector, welcomed comments made by the health minister Stephen Donnelly on Wednesday (12th October), when he indicated his belief in the potential for a WRC process to address the substantial pay deficit issues in the sector.

He made the comments during a debate, on a Labour party motion, seeking a collective bargaining process to address pay inequality in funded agencies providing health and social care services. Fórsa members in the community and voluntary sector took part in strike action in September as part of the ICTU-led Valuing care, Valuing Community campaign.

Fórsa national secretary Ashley Connolly said: "The debate was timely and Fórsa welcomed the contributions from right across the political spectrum. Every TD who spoke in the Dáil on Wednesday clearly articulated the arguments unions have been making on this issue, and we welcome that political support.

"While we welcome what the minister has said, we do so with caution, as there was no solid commitment to resolve these problems. It will take more than words of acknowledgement in the Dáil. If it opens the door to a proper process of negotiation, we’ll work with our colleague unions and the Government to achieve a result.

"While Fórsa remains determined to pursue a negotiated process to achieve pay equalisation measures, our members retain an absolute determination to exercise industrial action, if it becomes necessary,” she said.

Responsibilities

Responding to the Dáil motion, the health minister said he recognised the substantial challenge of recruiting and retaining experienced staff in the sector.

He said that while the Government was not the employer in these agencies, he acknowledged the role and responsibilities of the Government as the main funder - or often sole funder - to agencies on the sector.

Ashley said the minister's comments could open the door to a negotiation process: “The debate illustrated the problems very clearly, including the loss of staff to the HSE, to other funded (Section 38) agencies, and even to the NHS in the UK.

“Talent, skill and experience is being poached from a vital, underfunded sector, and this week that problem was acknowledged in the Dáil. The minister, in his response, explicitly acknowledged the ongoing problems of recruitment and retention in the sector, so our arguments appear to have broken through at Government level.

“Additionally, the Minister of State, Anne Rabbitte, said she wanted to achieve ‘fairness, equality, respect and value’ for the sector. On that we are very much in agreement. The debate also helped to drive home the point that the employers in the sector share the unions' concern on these issues.

"There is now work to do to move this issue on, ideally into a meaningful negotiation process that will deliver for our members in this vital sector, and which stems the flow of experienced staff out of agencies like Enable Ireland, Ability West, Western Care and St Joseph's Foundation. Agencies where our members recently took industrial action to highlight these problems,” she said.

Ashley and Fórsa officials will meet with other unions this morning (Friday) to discuss the next steps in the Valuing Care, Valuing Community campaign.

Watch: Fórsa members and officials attending the Dáil debate on Wednesday give their reaction, watch HERE or in the panel below.