Ahead of the national Raise the Roof rally on Saturday, 26th November, Fórsa has joined with the other education unions - ASTI, the INTO and TUI - in criticising the Government on a failed housing policy. The unions said the housing crisis has now put at risk the effective delivery of education services.

The unions combined represent about 100,000 members working in schools, colleges, and education centres across the country, and are calling on members to support the rally.

In a joint statement this week unions said: “For too long we have witnessed first-hand the deterioration in housing provision, most acutely in our major urban areas. This year we have seen schools and colleges struggle to recruit and retain critical staff, citing severe difficulties in relation to the availability and affordability of accommodation.

“The effective delivery of education is now fundamentally at risk if we don’t take steps to tackle the chronic housing challenges we are facing.

“Homelessness is becoming a far too familiar feature of the Irish education landscape. Schools have become places of sanctuary for pupils who find themselves in these circumstances, but we need to acknowledge how disruptive and challenging this is for vulnerable pupils and their families.

“Our members report that they often feel helpless, powerless, and ill-equipped to effectively respond to, and support pupils who are experiencing homelessness.

“We are calling on our members to support the Raise the Roof Rally on Saturday, 26th November. Together, we must call time on this failed housing policy and ensure government parties fully understand the scale of the crisis and the impact on the delivery of essential public services.”  

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

One in two people know someone experiencing domestic abuse. This is one of the key findings from a new survey on domestic violence supports published by Fórsa on Wednesday.

The union’s research set out to establish attitudes towards domestic violence and evaluate supports available in workplaces. The survey drew more than 3,000 responses from members, the majority of which (85%) were from women.

The findings were published as part of Fórsa’s equality seminar which took place in the union’s headquarters earlier this week.

Just under a third of respondents indicated that they had personally experienced domestic abuse. The perpetrator in eight-in-ten of those cases was an intimate partner, while two-in-ten offences were by a family member.

Of those that experienced domestic violence, almost 90% suffered from a form of emotional abuse. This included coercive control, gaslighting, blackmail, isolation, verbal abuse, and threats of physical violence, amongst others.

Over half of those respondents (55%) also reported direct physical abuse. A further 32% said they experienced financial abuse, such as control of finances and freezing access to funds intermittently while shopping for basic goods.

According to the results, 95% of victims suffered abuse at their home. Fórsa national secretary and equality officer Ashley Connolly said this underpinned the importance of workplaces as refuges where survivors can access supports and escape abuse: “More than 40% of respondents to our survey said the work environment offered them some safety and respite from the abuse. This is why we’ve called on all employers to develop clear policies and procedures to support victims of domestic abuse.

“Employers needed to deliver a better response to victims of domestic violence. The survey results show the urgent need for a package of workplace measures to assist people suffering abuse,” she said.

Ms Connolly added: “One of the critical ways in which people can be supported is by helping them maintain their financial independence from their abuser. Their work, as a source of income and personal autonomy outside of an abusive or controlling domestic environment, helps them to do that.

“No one should lose their pay or employment because of domestic abuse. Instead, their workplace can provide an opportunity to put important supports and resources in place, and help people navigate their way out of an abusive home environment,” she said.

Fórsa says domestic violence supports could make a huge difference to victims, while being of minimal cost to employers.

The survey also revealed eight-in-ten respondents were not aware of domestic abuse policies and supports available at their workplace. Almost 60% said this was down to them not being informed of the supports, or the lack of well-signposted resources throughout the workplace.

More than 85% of respondents weren’t likely to discuss personal domestic abuse with their employer, while more than two-thirds (77%) of respondents wanted to see a domestic abuse policy introduced in the workplace as a requirement. The same majority believed this would encourage those in need to reach out to their employer for assistance.

Earlier this year, delegates at Fórsa’s national conference unanimously backed a motion from the union’s national executive calling for statutory paid leave for victims of domestic violence.

The conference motion committed the union to actively campaign to legislate for an effective statutory entitlement to paid leave for victims of domestic violence, and encourage the union’s networks to raise the issue of workplace supports for victims and survivors of domestic violence with employers in their sectors.

Read the full report HERE. 

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

Fórsa is urging caretakers to attend the inaugural caretaker branch annual general meeting (AGM) which will take place at 11am this Saturday,12th of November in Fórsa’s Nerney’s Court office, Dublin.

The AGM will see a formal branch executive committee established, elected by members to represent caretakers in discussions with the Department of Education and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Fórsa official Shane Lambert called on members to “get active, get engaged and get involved” with the new branch and encouraged caretaking colleagues and friends to do likewise.

“If you know of someone who has not yet joined the union, tell them to do so urgently. Together we will make significant strides in giving caretakers and secretaries the protections and recognition they deserve,” he said.

Cabinet announced on Wednesday (9^th November) that it has agreed to scrap the draft Right to Request Remote Working Bill and instead deliver the new workers’ rights in the Work-Life Balance Bill, which is currently making its way through the Oireachtas. 

The ‘right to request’ legislation had previously been described as “fatally flawed” by Fórsa and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), and in need of major amendments. The new legislation has been developed as a result of extensive engagement between government departments, trade unions and employers.

ICTU general secretary Owen Reidy said integrating the two pieces of legislation will deliver workers a statutory right to request remote working before the end of this year, months ahead of the expected schedule.

He added: “Congress and our affiliate unions welcome the Government commitment, to be written into the Work-Life Balance Bill, to consider extending the right to request all types of flexible working arrangements to all workers, not just remote, after two years of the legislation coming into effect.”

“Unions have been clear that full flexibility for all workers is necessary to close the emerging work-life balance privilege gap between workers who can work remotely and those in jobs requiring a physical presence.  

Mr. Reidy said: “I want to acknowledge the collaborative approach taken by the Tánaiste and his officials to resolve the flawed draft legislation and to deliver on his commitment to a new workers’ right to remote working.”

ICTU president and Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said the new legislation illustrated the potential for problem-solving and innovation through the close collaboration of the social partners: “This is a great example of effective tripartism to address a significant challenge for working people and employers.

“This is why we are advocating for a new social compact in response to the challenges ahead. Those challenges are significant, and are driven by inflation, international conflict and a changing climate. There are opportunities to prepare for a better, more secure future by working together through a new social compact,” he said.

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

Fórsa has welcomed the launch of a public consultation on a scheme to disregard historic convictions of gay and bisexual men.

Previously, a working group consisting of representatives from the Department of Justice, An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Attorney General, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) and individuals from the LGBT community with expertise in this area was established to examine how this could be progressed.

Following that the Department of Justice published the Working Group Progress Report, which contained a number of recommendations, including the need for targeted public consultation for affected persons and representative groups.

LGBTQ activist and Fórsa member Kieran Rose forms part of the Department's working group to inform policy in this area. Kieran also addressed the union’s equality seminar which took place on Wednesday (9^th November) at the union’s headquarters in Dublin.

During his presentation Kieran recognised the role of trade unions in lifting a “beleaguered minority” in the 1980’s.

“This was a time where the media coverage of passing of the LGPSU and ICTU motions was a very crucial milestone,” he said.

At the launch of the scheme last week, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee encouraged any of the affected men, their families, loved ones and the wider LGBTQ+ community to engage with this consultation so that the scheme can be mindful of their unique perspective as it progresses.

The criminalisation of consensual sexual acts between men in Ireland came into effect prior to the foundation of the State and remained in place until its eventual decriminalisation in 1993. This criminalisation is now widely recognised as an affront to human dignity and a significant historic injustice.

In 2018, the Government announced plans to bring forward proposals for a scheme to enable the expungement (or disregard) of criminal records for qualifying offences, where the sexual acts involved would now be lawful.

Following the consultation, the working group will prepare a summary report which will give an overview of the submissions received and to embed them in the scheme moving forward.

The public consultation runs online for several weeks, until 5pm on Friday, 9th December. You can take part in the online survey here.

Fórsa has welcomed the announcement of a new law which will protect the income of hospitality workers.

The Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022 is designed to protect tips received by workers working in the hospitality industry. The Act will guarantee employees’ rights to receive tips electronically, as well as on top of their pay rather than as part of it. Under the new rules the basic wage of an employee must also be clearly stated and not beefed up to include a contribution of tips, as was the practice in some restaurants.

The new legislation also means that any charge referred to as a ‘service charge’, or anything that would lead a customer to believe it is a charge for service, must now be distributed to staff as though it were a tip or gratuity in the traditional sense.

The main sectors where the measures will apply include tourism, hospitality, hairdressing, taxi, and delivery services. If not adhered to, employers could be found guilty and liable in certain circumstances, with fines of up to €2,500.

Head of Fórsa’s Services and Enterprises Division, Katie Morgan, welcomed the news.

“When we give a tip to a hospitality worker, it’s because we want to reward them for the service that they have provided, not because we want to boost the pockets of their employers. The Act introduces new rules about how employers share tips, gratuities, and service charges amongst workers. It also makes it illegal for employers to use tips or gratuities to make up basic wages,” she said.

Katie explained that there is a review mechanism built into the legislation that will need to be monitored.

The law does require a review of the legislation in a years’ time so the union movement will keep an eye on its overall effectiveness and how it is being implemented,” she said.

The Fórsa-backed ONE Galway initiative, which comprises of trade unions, student unions and community groups working together as one movement, has long campaigned to improve tipping practices and give workers ownership of their tips.

The group has echoed support for the legislation.

“ONE Galway has said time and again, that people are willing to work and remain in a sector where there is decent pay, adherence to the range of employment legislation to which they are entitled, and dignity and respect in all interactions,” said a spokesperson.

The Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022 will come into effect on December 1^st.

Fórsa is one of the unions that has formed the coalition behind the ‘Keep Water Public’ campaign. Launched last month, the campaign calls on the Government to confirm a date for a constitutional referendum on the public ownership of water services. The campaign is supported by Fórsa, SIPTU, Unite, Connect and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Speaking at yesterday’s campaign launch, ICTU president and Fórsa general secretary, Kevin Callinan, said the campaign to name the date for a referendum represented a shared commitment by trade unions to ensure the future of public ownership of water services: “It’s time now to end any lingering uncertainty about the future of water services in Ireland. A referendum would give people the opportunity to have their say, in addition to providing us all with a unique opportunity to safeguard public ownership of water for future generations.

“In that sense, there should be no further hesitation, and we are urging the Government now to name the date. In doing so, it would be taking a welcome and positive step,” he said.

Assistant general secretary Catherine Keogh, who has been working closely with Fórsa members in local authorities providing water services, has said the feeling among members is very strong: “They want the Government to name the date for a referendum, to clearly indicate when we can expect to cast a vote to protect the future of our water services. That feeling is universal, so I expect we’ll see strong support for this campaign,” she said.

Fórsa’s head of Local Government Richy Carrothers said the unions had come together to maximise participation in the campaign by union members: “Privatised water services result in higher costs and poorer services for the public. Public ownership of water services ensures safe and sustainable access to water for everyone.

“A referendum would help protect Irish water services from any future attempt at privatisation, providing a constitutional guarantee of public ownership. Opinion polls show that a huge majority of the Irish public want a referendum to ensure water services can never be privatised.

“We’re inviting all union branches and members to take part in this campaign by signing the petition and talking to their local political representatives about naming a date for this important referendum.

“This is the kind of grassroots campaign that unions excel at, and I’m confident that Fórsa members will seize the opportunity to get this message across to the Government parties,” he said.

You can sign the petition here and Fórsa members are encouraged to circulate the link among work colleagues, friends and family to seek their support for the campaign.

The president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and Fórsa general secretary, Kevin Callinan, has backed calls for a new social compact - bringing together government, employers and unions - to better prepare for the “considerable” challenges facing the country as a result of inflation, international conflict and a changing climate.

Kevin said that while existing social dialogue had made a positive contribution to the Covid pandemic response, it is not yet at the level required to meet the challenges the country is facing.

He was addressing delegates at the 10th Annual NERI Dónal Nevin lecture yesterday (Thursday), in response to keynote speaker Sharon Donnery, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland.

Kevin said the government intervention in Budget 2023 was significant in the scale of the spend but was a missed opportunity for transformative change: “The type of change that would provide the necessary resilience to withstand the inevitable shocks that a small open economy will face, not just as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

His calls for a new social compact follows a similar call by employer body chief Danny McCoy of Ibec. Speaking at the recent Countess Markievicz Memorial Lecture in DCU, McCoy reiterated his call for a new social compact to develop agreed measures such as increased taxation to fund public services and welfare benefits. 

Options

Kevin said in the absence of this kind of “effective tripartism,” the only avenue open to trade unions - in both the public and private sectors - would be the pursuit of pay settlements to fully compensate for the rate of inflation, with additional increases to reflect productivity growth.  

He added: “Let’s not squander an opportunity to prepare for a better, more secure future by working together. A core objective of the trade union movement is to ensure fairer wealth distribution while maintaining and improving living standards.

“That doesn’t need to involve conflict and disputes, but, in the absence of effective tripartism, collective bargaining will be our only avenue. If an effective social compact is happen, the ball is now firmly in the Government's court. The trade union movement needs to be convinced quickly that a decisive and different approach is coming in 2023.

“We are clear-eyed about the reality that there are hard decisions ahead, driven by inflation, international conflict and a changing climate. Our own Government’s recent income tax adjustments nevertheless remain at odds with the direction of travel that all of the wise and informed signals are beckoning us towards.

“Looking ahead to next year, the trade union movement will not accept a continued failure to deploy such measures in a more targeted way. Neither can we tolerate a failure to deploy resources to strengthen 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 is supporting the Raise the Roof demonstration on the 26th of November in Dublin and is encouraging members and their families to get involved.

In preparation for the housing rally, Fórsa is holding a children’s poster competition.

To be in with a shot of winning one of three €50 Smyths Toys vouchers all you need to do is draw a poster illustrating how you would #RaisetheRoof this November. Entries should be emailed to jcooper@forsa.ie.

Extra points if you also post your pictures, tagging us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Entries close on Friday November 18th and three winners will be selected.

Fórsa trade union hosted an event this week to mark the publication of a new book charting the progress of the CPSU (one of the founder unions of Fórsa) from its roots in the 19th century, as one of the earliest civil service unions, and its role in positioning the issue of gender equality at the centre of the Irish trade union movement.

ICTU president and Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan said the book captures crucial detail about the development of the Civil Service in the context of the formation of the State in its early development: “The CPSU played an exemplary role in the formation of the State and in breakthroughs on equal pay and equal working rights for women in the Irish workforce. As one of the founding unions of Fórsa, It’s a legacy of which we are rightly proud and are happy to celebrate,” he said.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, attended as a special guest. He acknowledged the role of the union in representing a huge proportion of women in the civil and public service, and said many young Irish people would find the restrictions previously placed on women in the workplace “unbelievable,” paying tribute to the role civil servants and their representatives played in transforming the workplace.

Fighting for the Clerical Grades: A history of the Civil, Public and Services Union 1922-2017 (CPSU) is researched and written by Martin Maguire and is published by the Institute of Public Administration (IPA).

New State

The union’s history features an account of the union’s engagement with Michael Collins as Minister for Finance/Political Head of the Civil Service, within days of the formation of the Provisional Government in January 1922.

A union delegation from the clerical officers’ organisation met with Collins, offering the commitment of the membership to the independent state, and warning him of the dangers posed by the ongoing partition of the civil service.

The delegation proposed a model for a civil service to Collins which they said better suited to the new state, describing it as “a revolutionary break from the British system.” Martin makes the case that, had this model been adopted, it would have better suited the new Irish state.

Also featured is the union’s role as early champions of equality in the new state. Former CPSU general secretary Eoin Ronayne explained: “While it’s generally assumed that the demand for equal pay for women was first voiced in the 1950s or the 1960s, the CPSU organised the mostly female grades in the civil service to the struggle for equal pay and equal opportunity, a struggle that engaged the union from the very foundation of the state in 1922 and around which it mobilised generations of civil servants.

“In the fight for equality and respect it took the government to the courts in Ireland and in Europe, winning some of the highest court awards in the history of the state and of Europe,” he said.

For more about the book and how to order a copy, visit the Fórsa website. 

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

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.

Members of Fórsa’s Aer Lingus Cabin Crew branch have successfully raised more than €50,000 in a fundraiser appeal for their colleague and branch member Stephanie Scott Byrne. Stephanie has been unable to return to work following a diagnosis of motor neurone disease (MND) in January this year.

The fundraiser was set up by her cabin crew colleagues Anne and Fiona Gillespie. Describing Stephanie as a ‘wonderful colleague’, who had joined Aer Lingus in 2005, they said: “Stephanie’s love of her job as cabin crew, her love of people and love of fun was infectious.

“In January 2022 Stephanie was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, and she is unable to return to work. Her husband, Mike, has given up his job to be her sole carer and to parent their nine-year old daughter April.

“We would like to raise as much funds as possible to support and help Stephanie, Mike and April through the challenging times ahead,” they said.

Patricia O’Sullivan, Chairperson of the Cabin Crew Branch Executive and cabin crew colleague, said that Stephanie’s Aer Lingus colleagues, family and friends jumped at the chance to support this fundraiser. She added that the speed with which it took off was simply amazing: “They have all rallied support for Stephanie and her family and the huge gesture of solidarity is something we hope will give them comfort at this difficult time”.

Niall Mullally, Chairperson of Fórsa’s Services and Enterprises division and fellow cabin crew member, said the establishment of the fundraiser reflected the support, respect and friendship of Stephanie’s cabin crew colleagues and her wider family and friends. “Fiona and Anne’s initiative reflects the best of trade union values and overwhelming solidarity among cabin crew.

“Equally, Fórsa’s Services and Enterprises division is actively encouraging anyone who can to support this fundraising effort,” he said.

Responding to the progress of the fund last week, Stephanie’s husband Mike thanked donors for their generosity, and said she had been overwhelmed by news of the fundraising drive: “If Stephanie was well enough, she would be thanking you personally. Unfortunately, her illness has progressed, and basic communication is a burden for her.”

You can support Fiona and Anne’s fundraiser for Stephanie HERE.

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

The Fair Pay Agreements (FPA) is the name of a new sectoral bargaining system which has just been passed into law in New Zealand, which commentators say will radically expand unions’ collective bargaining power.

FPAs are essentially collective agreements struck, not between a union and a single employer, but a union and every employer in an industry. The new system is designed to boost pay and working conditions in sectors and occupations characterised by lower earnings and subcontracting. Australia is set to follow suit with similar legislation.

A working group on sectoral bargaining was set up in 2018 and draft legislation was eventually introduced last year. Developments in New Zealand and Australia were cited in the research behind the recently published report by the High-Level Group on collective bargaining in Ireland.

The new legislation covers base wage rates, ordinary hours, overtime and penalty rates, with scope for redundancy, leave, and health and safety. FPAs can be occupational or industry based, and trade unions can trigger the FPA process if they meet a representation threshold of support from 10% (or 1,000) of workers, or a “public interest test.” 

New Zealand's Workplace Relations Minister, Michael Wood commented: “For too long New Zealanders working in critical roles like cleaners, supermarket workers, and bus drivers whose work was essential to keep our country going during the pandemic, have been undervalued by our workplace relations system.

“Fair Pay Agreements are about turning that around and ensuring that working kiwis get a fair go again,” he said.

Commentators have expressed concerns that the new system might be scrapped if the conservative opposition, the National party, which is opposed to the FPAs, wins the NZ elections due to take place next year.

The Fórsa-backed Raise the Roof housing campaign has announced plans to hold a national demonstration calling for an end to the housing and homeless crisis, which will take place at 1pm in Dublin on Saturday, 26th November.

The rally, called in response to the acute housing crisis facing the country, will gather at The Garden of Remembrance on Parnell Square and Fórsa is urging members to attend.

The campaign brings together a wide range of unions and other civil society bodies to demand radical new action on the housing crisis, which is now one of the ‘longest and most severe’ in Ireland’s history, according to campaigners.

Fórsa’s director of campaigning Kevin Donoghue said that this is now “a national emergency” and the time for Government action has long since passed.

“There are 10,568 people in emergency accommodation in this country, and rents have increased by almost 100% in the last ten years. We know that average rents consume over half the average wage, well above the 30% level defined as ‘affordable’, and 60,000 renters are in their 50s and will struggle with high rents in retirement,” he explained.

A legal right to housing and a State-led housing programme with a mandate to deliver affordable homes for all are just some of the solutions set out in the Raise the Roof manifesto. 

“Each of these figures tells a story of a housing crisis that is deepening and impacting on every pocket of society. Addressing these problems requires radical solutions like the ones laid out by the Raise the Roof,” said. Kevin.

The group also announced it would be holding the meetings with a view to building broad public support for solutions to the crisis and alternative policies on housing. Meetings will take place on:

• Monday November 21st, Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, 7.30pm
• Wednesday November 23rd, Woodquay Venue, Dublin City Centre, 6pm
• Thursday November 24th, River Valley, Swords, 7.30pm

More information on the campaign can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and those looking to get involved should contact campaigns director Kevin Donoghue HERE.