Fórsa general secretary and president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Kevin Callinan, has said that the cost of living must continue to be the main focus for public service unions in pay talks this year.

Kevin chairs the ICTU’s Public Services Committee (PSC). He made the comments last week in his address to the INTO teachers’ conference in Killarney.

The current public service pay agreement, Building Momentum, expires at the end of 2023. Talks on a successor agreement are expected to take place in the coming months.

Kevin told INTO delegates that unions will concentrate on a number of key cost-of-living issues during expected pay talks, including the need to “make good the shortfall in pay against inflation” during the remaining term of the current pay agreement.

He said this would be in addition to factoring in the effect of the cessation of Government cost-of-living measures and supports, and in anticipation of cost-of-living projections over the period of any proposed agreement.

He said unions were clear that last year’s Building Momentum review didn't fully compensate for the rate of inflation, which averaged 8% over 2022.

He added: “When workers were weighing up the terms, they were mindful of government statements of intent to introduce various measures, including budgetary tax changes.

“We’ve already made it clear to government and employers, if these supports are withdrawn and if prices remain elevated - as they surely will - the shortfall will have to be made good in wage bargaining across the economy.”

Greedflation

Kevin said the relatively recent advent of inflation has led the European Central Bank (ECB) to identify excessive company profits as a bigger driver of inflation than wage demand.

He added: “Many commentators are quick to try to dampen down wage demands with talk of a wage-price spiral. Working people can see through those arguments, particularly when they are exposed to obvious price-gouging.

“To be clear, there can be no sustainable case for wage moderation while inflation continues to be driven by excessive company profits, neither in the public or private sector,” he said.

Public service employment

Kevin said recent growth in public sector employment is “merely a recovery of ground lost as a direct result of the 2008 financial crash”, adding that public service capacity shrank during the austerity years, while a growing population continued to place a demand on services.

He added: “The growth of public service employment is not keeping the required pace. It has increased by barely more than half the rate of population growth in the Republic,” and said even moderate predictions of population growth anticipates an increase to 5.4 million people by 2036.

Kevin said that, at roughly 7%, Ireland's public service employment, as a percentage of total population, looks “completely out of step with most of our EU partners.”

He said an appropriate comparison in this context was with Denmark, where public service employment is closer to 13%, while in Croatia the figure is 8.5%.

He said poorly resourced public services and inadequate infrastructure is holding back the potential of the Irish economy, in addition to “causing real hardship for many who can't access housing, essential healthcare or affordable childcare.”

Commenting on the recent upsurge in anti-immigrant commentary, he said: “Effective social dialogue can counter that kind of populism. It can help to replace short-term thinking with long-term planning, designed to meet the multiple challenges of our times and allowing the country to move forward more united, provided that the social dialogue is based on adequate levels of social protection, collective bargaining as the norm, and quality public services,” he said.

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

Fórsa has made an offer to outline a vision of issues to go to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) if access is granted for civil servants, and the potential impact it will have on delivery of services.

The union had previously outlined its intentions to collapse the main industrial relations mechanism for civil servants following the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s (DPER) continuous negligence to engage with the scheme.

But Fórsa is now awaiting an invite from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) following the union’s offer to discuss the stream of issues that will be referred to the WRC and to proceed the matter further.

Fórsa has said civil servants were being denied access to the WRC for almost all workplace issues, with the only exceptions being for equality-based grievances.

“It is an exclusion unique to the Civil Service,” the union said. 

The union had maintained its intentions to collapse the scheme unless urgent progress was made on implementing the 2015 Industrial Relations Act, which would provide access to the WRC.

Éamonn Donnelly, who leads the union’s civil service division, said although the general council protocol is that a response must issue within two sittings of general council (two months), no response had been received on the internal dispute resolution procedure despite it having been tabled in September last. 

Fórsa said this delay triggered the union’s notification of intention to collapse the General Council. 

“There is a reason these protocols are in place, and DPER’s often delayed -or complete lack- of responses show absolute disregard for the system,” Éamonn added.

Fórsa says the current arbitration system is completely outdated and stacked heavily in favour of the employer. 

Éamonn said the only alternative if no progress was made on referral of issues to the WRC would be to seek bilateral meetings “for every single issue” across the civil service.

Impasse

Fórsa said it also complied with DPER’s request to provide an indexation of all the industrial relations issues stuck in place due to the impasse. 

“We promptly prepared the extensive list of issues caught in the system and not responded to, and it was done on the condition that DPER would sit down with us and go through those,” said Éamonn.

But he warned that this step was “not done to preserve the longevity of the General Council. It is quite the contrary,” he added. 

“Our only interest is in moving issues that are stuck, but let me reiterate that we are intent on gaining proper access to the WRC for the workers we represent,” said Éamonn. 

Fórsa is pushing for a timely response from DPER to the dispute resolution document, and has also called for this mechanism to be built into the system, so civil service workers across the country can have proper access to the WRC. 

It says the biggest flaw in the system that needs to be addressed immediately is the lack of a response time. This means a matter can be referred to arbitration, but the arbitration board has no powers to facilitate a hearing until DPER decides to respond.

Fórsa, representing civilian teachers in the Garda Síochána training college in Templemore, has won an adjudication hearing on the issue of flexitime.

College management had intended to introduce a new time recording system but sought to withhold the introduction of flexible working hours for the grades concerned on a permanent basis, arguing that they would introduce the system without flexitime, and review its efficacy before making any decision.

Fórsa official Paul Moyer argued that there was a flawed logic in seeking to review the operation of Flexi time without first allowing Flexi time to be introduced.

“How can you assess whether the new system is compatible with flexi unless you first roll out flexi? We didn’t understand the logic behind it. We have no issue with the operation of Flexi being reviewed, but it needs to be reviewing something real,” said Paul.

On foot of Fórsa intervention and evidence provided the civil service adjudicator ruled that that had the teachers concerned been admitted to the time recording system at the same time as other civilian staff they would have done so on similar terms and conditions of admission that prevailed for these other staff at that time.

“We were pleased with the result which allows our members to benefit from flexi time and allows management to have an appropriate review of its operation,” said Paul.

Fórsa has engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the duration of probation in the civil service, following a claim to have probationary periods reduced to six months, down from the current twelve.

The EU Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions was transposed into Irish law in December, with one of the principles directing that precarious period of employment be kept to a minimum. Fórsa official Seán Carabini argued that there is no more precarious time in employment than probation.

“The Irish Law now states that public service probation shall not be longer than twelve months. We have called for it to be a standard six months both to bring us into line with European norms and to reduce precarity,” he said.

Seán noted that there are additional concerns at play, addressing how the Directive has been transposed.

“Since the Directive was transposed in December, we have a situation whereby the law states that public sector probation cannot be for more than 12 months. However, at present, there are times where a person may require an additional three or so months in order to address any performance concerns. People who appeal a recommendation to have their probation considered unsatisfactory are, in some cases, given the additional time to prove themselves and remove any doubts. But the way the directive has been transposed is a problem. Probation for civil service workers is twelve months at present. The new law means that it can’t be extended beyond twelve months,” he said.

Seán explained that both factors make for compelling reasons to reduce probation periods.

“We have made our claim to have probation reduced. We have two compelling rationales for it – both the principles underpinning the Directive and the new problem of no facility to extend a probation. We will await a response from the management side,” he said.

*Note: It is still possible to extend probation where it has been paused for statutory reasons, eg, Maternity Leave etc.

The third Lunch and Learn will take place on Friday, 28th April, from 1-2pm focusing on Menstrual and Menopausal Health at work.

This will be delivered by Paula Byrne, from Apple blossom holistic.

Paula is a holistic wellness educator who is dedicated to helping others to enhance their wellbeing. She is the creator of The Mindful Cycle, a holistic and mindful approach to menstrual literacy and wellness.

The Mindful Cycle inspires a world where conversations about periods and the menstrual cycle are normal, the menstrual cycle is understood by all and people with periods can mindfully embody their unique inner rhythm.

It is changing lives through the development of holistic habits and sustainable skills for life.

You can sign up to attend the one-hour session HERE.

If you have any questions about any aspect of the application process, please contact Judith directly on 021 4255221 or email here.

Fórsa’s largest membership survey is currently underway, and we’re encouraging you to have your say.

Ahead of negotiations throughout 2023, we want to know more about the issues that matter most to you and your co-workers.

Fórsa is anticipating pay talks with Government in the coming months and while these will relate largely to civil and public servants, there will also be pay bargaining in other sectors where we represent members.

We also anticipate that a general election will be held within the next two years and we’re taking this opportunity to seek your views so we can influence the policies of political parties on the issues that matter most to Fórsa members.

Fórsa is not affiliated to any political party and does not support any party or candidates in elections. Your opinions will guide us in this important work.

The confidential survey is being conducted by Amárach Research on behalf of Fórsa and is entirely voluntary.

Aggregated responses will be used in our work to negotiate on your behalf, and influence Government policy.

You can access the survey here, but please note that only Fórsa members are invited to respond.

Encourage your co-workers to join today.

Fórsa members across the country took part in a union led coffee morning yesterday, to celebrate the work of administrative professionals and recognise their enormous contribution to the workplace.

In a message to members Fórsa General Secretary Kevin Callinan acknowledged the significant impact administration professionals make to the lives of others.

“In Fórsa, we recognise that administrative staff are the backbone of their organisations. In many cases administrative staff are the first point of contact where they work and play a hugely important role in the success of their teams and organisations,” he said.

Branches across all Fórsa divisions took part and hosted the nationwide event.

The One Wexford Trade Union Centre opened its doors earlier this month, bringing Fórsa, Siptu and Connect together under the one roof.

The Congress-backed program is supported by the Wexford Council of Trade Unions and sets out to strengthen trade union awareness, build links between unions and communities, and enhance unions' local engagement in the Wexford area.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan helped to launch the centre, formed on the pillars of one movement, one approach, one vision.

Fórsa activist and secretary to the Wexford Council of Trade Unions Kate Miskella said that ONE Wexford was built on the successful model established by the ONE Cork and ONE Galway initiatives.

“This is about working collectively in our workplaces and communities to improve living and working conditions and achieve significant gains for all workers through greater trade union participation,” she said.

Applications are now open for the 2023 Fórsa Gaeltacht grant scheme, which will make 80 grants of €150 each available to assist children of Fórsa members attending residential Irish language courses in Gaeltacht areas this summer.

A further 40 grants of €70 are available to assist children to attend day-only Irish language courses held outside Gaeltacht areas.

Children of Fórsa members, who are aged between 11 years and 18 years of age on 1st July 2022, are eligible to apply for the grant scheme. You can download the application form HERE.

Please download the form to a folder on your device prior to filling it out.

If you cannot use the fillable form online please print the form, complete it in black pen and return it to:

General Services Committee,

Gaeltacht Scheme,

Fórsa, Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1,

D01 R2C5.

It should arrive before 5.30 PM on Thursday 1^st June 2023.

All queries and applications should be sent to this email address.

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

Fórsa members can now save 50% on their AA Roadside Rescue plan, through a new and exclusive union negotiated scheme.

This new AA Roadside Rescue offer provides for 24/7 roadside breakdown assistance in Ireland and the UK for just €6 a month, and will provide cover whether driving or as a passenger.

This new offer can be accessed exclusively through this portal.

Contact the AA here for more information.