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National seminar on SNA training planned
by Mark Corcoran
 

Forsa is to host a national online seminar on 'education and training for special needs assistants: preparing for an inclusive future’ on Saturday 4th December.


Forsa is to host a national online seminar on 'education and training for special needs assistants: preparing for an inclusive future’ on Saturday 4th December. The event will explore different perspectives on the future for SNA for education and training purposes.


It will also form part of a campaign to secure a review of the minimum education qualification required to work as a SNA.


Speakers will include representatives from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and other important education stakeholders. The speakers will discuss the current minimum qualification, the desirable qualification, and the reforms needed to enable SNAs to better support students within a more inclusive education system.


Fórsa’s head of education Andy Pike said SNAs consistently say that their role is undervalued.


“One of the most important practical steps that could be taken to increase respect for SNAs would be to change the minimum essential qualification to put the role on a more professional footing.


“SNAs should not be seen as unskilled or unqualified. The minimum qualification should be changed to reflect the existing educational achievements of SNAs and be modernised to ensure all new staff have achieved an accredited qualification,” he said.

 

Andy added that the seminar would raise awareness that the existing requirement for 3 ‘D’grade passes in the junior certificate is outdated and needs to be changed to reflect the complex role required of SNAs in the school system.

 

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School secretary discussions continue
by Mark Corcoran
 

Discussions have continued with Government officials to determine the rate of pay for school secretaries who are transferring to public service clerical officer pay scales as part of a recent deal won by Fórsa.


Discussions have continued with Government officials to determine the rate of pay for school secretaries who are transferring to public service clerical officer pay scales as part of a recent deal won by Fórsa.

 

The union says the department has made a number of offers, which show genuine progress but have yet to meet the full expectation of members.

 

The parties have agreed that the public service clerical officer scale will be used, and that the scale will be increased in line with future public service pay awards. It is also agreed upon that secretaries will receive one increment per year, and will progress to the top of the pay scale regardless whether they assimilate below the maximum of the scale.

 

In order to address the problem of lay-offs, proposals are being developed to allow secretaries to be paid the equivalent value of job seekers benefit by their employer, thus removing the need for staff to sign on.

 

Fórsa’s head of education, Andy Pike, has asserted that even though the final assimilation point has not been agreed upon, they must move on to discuss other issues.

 

"Although we have not agreed the final assimilation points we now need to move on to discuss the conditions of service such as sick pay, annual leave and the structure of a new contract. Once these points have been covered, outstanding issues, including assimilation points, will need to be resolved with the help of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) before a final package be put to members in a ballot.

 

"I appreciate that this process is taking longer than anticipated. However it is important to make sure the details are clear and the final outcome is as beneficial as we can make it. Once discussions on secretaries have concluded, talks on arrangements for caretakers will commence using the same principles,” he said.

 

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Climate justice urged at COP26
by Mehak Dugal and Bernard Harbor
 

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has called on world Governments to back labour rights as part of an industrial policy that supports a ‘just transition’ to a zero-emissions economy.


The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has called on world Governments to back labour rights as part of an industrial policy that supports a ‘just transition’ to a zero-emissions economy.

 

Its intervention comes as top government representatives meet in Glasgow this weekend for the two-week United Nations Climate Change Conference (Cop26).

 

ITUC’s programme for COP26 also calls for ambitious climate action, ‘just transition’ measures, human rights protections and a financial package to underpin climate action in developing countries.

 

The global union federation is running a trade union strategy day on 7th November. This is open to all trade union members through a virtual link. 

 

In the run up to the summit, countries are being asked to come forward with ambitious 2030 emissions reduction targets (NDCs) that align with reaching net zero by the middle of the century.

 

The conference will also ask developed countries to make good on their promise to stump up at least $100 billion in climate finance each year.

 

The imminent need for reform comes amidst warning by a United Nations report which shows that existing national climate pledges, combined with other mitigation measures, still put the world on track for a global temperature rise of 2.7°C by the end of the century. That is well above the goals of the Paris climate agreement and would lead to catastrophic changes in the earth’s climate.

 

It warns that the post-pandemic period will have disastrous effects for the world unless countries commit to new and stronger climate pledges.

 

COP26 has attracted immense attention, with several planned strikes and demonstrations set to take place in the two-week period.

 

Activists including Greta Thunberg, and climate action groups like Extinction Rebellion, Climate Justice, will join thousands of workers and trade unions at a rally in Glasgow. They are part of a coalition demanding that governments commit to cutting emissions and implementing globally just solutions to limit global temperature increases to no more than 1.5 degrees.

 

The coalition has called attention to public health and safety against the backdrop of the pandemic and the importance of framing the fight for climate justice within the context of a global vaccine inequality.

 

Meanwhile, the recent publication of the proposed carbon budgets from Ireland’s Climate Change Advisory Council has been welcomed by many. It is set to be proposed by the minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, first to the Cabinet and then the Oireachtas for review and approval.

 

The Irish Government is due to implement three five-year carbon budgets, which will set limits on emissions from specific sectors.

 

The proposed budget forms part of Ireland’s road map to meet the government’s target off reducing emissions by more than half by 2030. It allows for a total of 295 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions between now and then.

 

The Government's new climate action plan is also due to be published shortly. The large targets were set following alarming reports that Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions fell by just 3.6% last year, even though there was economy-wide lockdowns and slowdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Ireland failed its target to match the EU commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 20% between 2005 and 2020. Read ITUC’s Social Justice Creates Climate Ambition HERE

 

ITUC lists trade union activities in Glasgow, many with virtual access, HERE

 

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Covid safety measures remain in place
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa has welcomed the Government’s decision to maintain its existing policy of a staggered and phased return to workplaces, instead of revising Covid-19 safety regulations to lift all restrictions on workplace attendance from the end of this week.


Fórsa has welcomed the Government’s decision to maintain its existing policy of a staggered and phased return to workplaces, instead of revising Covid-19 safety regulations to lift all restrictions on workplace attendance from the end of this week.

 

The change of tack means that the existing approach, adopted since 20th September, is to remain in place until the New Year. Official guidelines continue to counsel a staggered and phased return to work premises, with employers advised that staff attendance is only advised for “specific business requirements.”

 

The regulations strongly advise the use of staggered arrangements including “non-fulltime attendance and flexible working hours.”

 

Last week’s official decision to slow the planned relaxation of Covid restriction also means that existing workplace safety measures for staff who must attend their employer’s premises are remain broadly the same. A slight revision to an agreed workplace safety protocol was issued at the end of last week.

 

The guidelines were first agreed between unions, employers and Government representatives in summer 2020, and have been revised a number of times since.

 

Last revised in September, these place a strong emphasis on face coverings, maintaining safe distance, regular handwashing and sanitation, and adequate ventilation. Staff who experience Covid symptoms are advised not to go into work, to get a test, and to isolate at home.

 

Reacting to the Government announcement, a Fórsa spokesperson said the union had consistently urged a careful and cautious approach to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus and protect workers, customers and others who visit workplaces.

 

“Remote working is working for most staff and employers, so there was no objective reason to accelerate the return to workplaces at a time when all the main Covid indicators are pointing the wrong way,” they said.

 

Meanwhile the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has again raised the issue of compliance with workplace safety measures in a meeting with Government and employer representatives last week.

 

ICTU has complained that safety inspectors are too ready to take an employer’s word that the required measures are in place, and it has demanded that workplace safety representatives are consulted and involved.

 

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Just 10% claim remote work expenses
by Mark Corcoran
 

New figures issued from the Revenue Commissions indicate that only 10% of people filed a tax return containing a remote working claim this year. 


New figures issued from the Revenue Commissions indicate that only 10% of people filed a tax return containing a remote working claim this year. This despite the fact that staff who work remotely can claim tax relief if their employer does not pay them a remote working allowance.

 

Workers can claim 10% tax relief on the cost of heat, electricity, and 30% of broadband costs, used when they’re working remotely. The recent budget increase the credit for heating and electricity to 30% from next year.

 

The Citizens’ Information service has an easy-to-understand guide to what you can claim. 

 

Fórsa has urged members who regularly work from home to claim their tax relief online by logging into Revenue's ‘my account’ service and clicking on the 'review your tax' link in PAYE services.

 

In the 'tax credits and reliefs' page, you should then select the 'your job' tab and follow the link to 'remote working expenses' and insert the amount you want to claim.

 

You will need to be able to account for each expense by providing bills and receipts, plus a letter from your employer that states that you work from home.

 

Fórsa welcomed the decision to increase the rate of relief on heating and electricity bills, but said that costs associated with remote working remained under discussion in talks on a long-term framework for 'blended working' in the public service.

 

The union's general secretary, Kevin Callinan suggested that a successful outcome to these discussions would be far more beneficial than the Budget measures in terms of realising the Government's January 2021 Remote Working Strategy. The strategy pledged to make remote working the norm for 20% of public sector staff.

 

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ICTU urges action on mental health
by Mark Corcoran
 

Unions affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) have signed up to six commitments aimed at promoting good mental health and supporting workers who experience mental ill health, including anxiety and depression.


Unions affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) have signed up to six commitments aimed at promoting good mental health and supporting workers who experience mental ill health, including anxiety and depression.

 

The actions include a pledge to challenge discrimination in the workplace, promote equal opportunity in recruitment and promotion, and work with employers to promote good mental health.

 

A new document produced by ICTU’s health and safety committee says mental health is an essential part of personal wellbeing. It cites Mental Health Ireland’s assessment that everyone is likely to experience some type of mental health issue during their lives, with the vast majority making a full recovery.

 

The document also urges unions to work with employers to develop mental health policies and create a working environment that respects all workers, including those with mental health difficulties. It stresses that employees should have the right to disconnect from work, and to not answer any work related emails, calls or messages outside of work hours.

 

It says workers should be supported to perform their jobs successfully following a disclosure of mental health difficulties. And it adds that union representatives should be free to support and assist union members who experience mental health difficulties.

 

The publication sets out detailed actions under each of the six commitments.

 

It also recommends actions aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and wellbeing at work through a range of initiatives including flexible working and campaigns to promote mental health.

 

Read the full document HERE.

 

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Unions back wealth tax call
by Bernard Harbor
 

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan has called for an expansion of employer PRSI contributions, taxes on wealth, and “meaningful financial deterrence for environmentally-damaging activities.”


Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan has called for an expansion of employer PRSI contributions, taxes on wealth, and “meaningful financial deterrence for environmentally-damaging activities.”

 

Speaking at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) conference in Belfast earlier this week, he said this would provide adequate funding to provide “decent public services worthy of a wealthy European nation.”

 

Kevin said employer PRSI contributions were way below the norm in other advanced European nations. This accounted for the shortfall in investment in public services, he said. He added that the tax burden fell too heavily on incomes, rather than wealth.

 

He told delegates that ICTU’s ‘No Going Back’ programme set out a vision for a “high skills, high productivity” post-Covid economy that provides secure well-paid work, a “European-standard social wage,” decent pensions and a strong safety net for those unable to work.

 

“Right now we spend far less on public services and infrastructure than similar European countries. Almost €3,500 less per person each year in the Republic, a total of over €17 billion in 2019 alone. The entire public spending gap between Ireland and its nearest EU neighbours matches, almost exactly, the shortfall in employer social contributions.

 

“That’s why our vision of decent public services, worthy of a wealthy European nation, would be funded by an expansion of employer contributions, increased tax on wealth rather than just incomes, and meaningful financial deterrence for environmentally-damaging activities,” he said.

 

Kevin said the pandemic had put past failures and future possibilities into sharp relief.

 

“Underfunded and disrespected for decades, the structural weaknesses of our public services, north and south, were laid bare for all to see. What passed as worker protections on this island – the weakest among the wealthier societies of Europe – exposed the insecurities that are the daily reality for hundreds of thousands of workers.

 

“And the vulnerabilities of our low-tax, light touch, fiscal and regulatory regimes left us exposed to a massive external shock for the second time in little more than a decade,” he said.

 

But workers, communities and public services had stepped up to the challenge and governments had little choice but to step up too.

 

“Their response contrasted sharply with the earlier banking crisis, when they quickly ducked behind the devastating and divisive economics of austerity. This time, strong support for a State-led response to the massive public health and economic challenges emerged on this island and beyond.

 

“We saw what can be achieved when the State mobilises financial, organisational and human resources for the common good, when people work together collectively, and when citizens have access to essential goods and services,” he said.

 

Conference delegates backed the ICTU ‘No Going Back’ programme, which sets out a practical blueprint for embedding these principles into Ireland’s economic and social model.

 

Kevin said: “No Going Back outlines how can recover and rebuild an economy based on decent, secure well-paid work. A high-productivity, high-skills economy, supported by investment in education, childcare and infrastructure. An economy where all workers earn at least a living wage, and enjoy a European-standard social wage with robust social solidarity based on decent pensions and a strong safety net for those unable to work.”

 

He said the programme also planned for a sustainable society, “where workers and communities are heard and heeded through robust social dialogue, and where action to secure the future of our planet – through a just transition – trumps the pursuit of private profits for vested interests.”

See our short summary HERE

 

 

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Kevin Callinan elected as ICTU president
by Mehak Dugal
 

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan was officially elected as president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) at its biennial delegate conference, which took place in Belfast earlier this week.


Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan was officially elected as president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) at its biennial delegate conference, which took place in Belfast earlier this week.

 

Setting out his vision for the future of ICTU during his term as president, Kevin outlined five key pillars including reimagining the role of the State post Covid.

 

He also called for a renewed commitment to ensuring a brighter future for workers, strengthened collective representation rights, actions to build a stronger trade union movement, and the development of trade union organisation in emerging economic sectors.

 

Speaking at the ICTU conference, he stressed the need to develop a coordinated, alternative to austerity in the national and European response to the pandemic, which has caused people “to question the orthodoxy of the last forty years.”

 

“We will only ensure that there is no going back if we plan and prepare. I believe the foundations on which the trade union movement can flourish include adopting a clear strategic direction, communicating with one voice, delivering an education and outreach programme within and across communities all over this island, and reinforcing our structures at local level.

 

“Let’s harness our trade union values, and the solidarity within our uniquely all island movement, to lead the way to a changed Ireland. We live in exciting times, full of possibility and opportunity, and we've an urgent responsibility to ensure we emerge from the pandemic with better jobs, better lives and a better planet,” he said.

 

He said the weakest protections among the wealthier societies of Europe exposed the insecurities that were the daily reality for hundreds of thousands of workers across the continent.

 

“We emerge from this crisis with more pride and unity than we did in the awful period of 2008-2011. The inspiring bravery of health staff and frontline workers across all sectors and the can-do flexibility of thousands pushed into new ways of working overnight,” he said.

 

Kevin also highlighted the importance of the ‘no going back’ campaign and defined it as a practical blueprint for embedding the principles of the pandemic response into the country’s economic and social model beyond the emergency and asked for the trade unions movement’s support for the same to make ‘no going back’ a reality for every worker across the island.

 

Kevin further called for an expansion of employer PRSI contributions, taxes on wealth, and “meaningful financial deterrence for environmentally-damaging activities.” He said this would provide adequate funding to provide “decent public services worthy of a wealthy European nation.” 

 

The current employer social contributions in both jurisdictions on the island of Ireland are way below the norms of other advanced European nations, and consequently the spending on public services is far less because of it.

 

An ICTU vice-president since 2015, Kevin was elected as chair of its Public Services Committee in 2019. He led the trade union side in the negotiations that resulted in the Building Momentum agreement earlier this year.

 

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Climate action depends on training and upskilling
by Bernard Harbor
 

Environmental sustainability is now just as important as social justice and economic growth, according to Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) general secretary Patricia King.


Environmental sustainability is now just as important as social justice and economic growth, according to Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) general secretary Patricia King.

 

But she said massive investment in training and upskilling was needed to ensure that workers can access alternative employment in a low-carbon economy.

 

“We have an opportunity to determine organised green jobs. It will also be important to recognise the potential impact on vulnerable households of the costs of the low carbon economy transition, and to mitigate this through appropriate supports,” she said.

 

Speaking at the ICTU conference earlier this week, she said that climate change was no longer just an abstract or future risk. “It is being played out, in real time, across the globe as we speak,” she said.

 

Citing the increased number and intensity of storms, hurricanes, floods, droughts and abnormal weather temperatures, she said the world was far closer to abrupt and irreversible changes than previously thought.

 

“Average global temperatures have increased by one degree Celsius since pre-industrial times. If we take no further action they will rise by between 1.5 and three degrees by 2050,” she said

.

Speaking on the verge of a crucial UN conference on climate action, she said Ireland was emitting almost 60 million tonnes of carbon each year.

 

“The Oireachtas recently enacted the climate action and low carbon development act, which lays out a series of measures to be implemented over coming decades including a 51% reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

 

“These are very ambitious targets and will undoubtedly have implications for workers. There will inevitably be employment gains and losses.

 

“Our task is to ensure that we decarbonise our economy through a just transition, which will necessitate massive investment in our training and upskilling infrastructure,” she said.

 

Patricia said that, together with global heating, the Covid19 pandemic would define the 21st century.

 

“We salute the major contribution of all those workers across our frontline and essential services who risked their lives daily and, in cases of some, lost their lives, to keep us safe and well,” she said.

 

She said ICTU was the first organisation to advocate a wage subsidy scheme to assist in maintaining incomes and preserving a direct link between workers and their employment.

 

“It has long since been acknowledged that this Wage Subsidy Scheme was one of the most valuable instruments in the economic management of the pandemic,” she said.

 

She added that ICTU was also the first to propose a national workplace safety protocol to keep workers safe in their workplace.

 

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Feature Article
Join our discussion on a fair future
 

Fórsa is livestreaming three panel sessions on Tuesday week (9th November) on our call for strong support for State-led responses to Ireland’s post-pandemic massive public health and economic challenges. National and international speakers include HSE chief executive Paul Reid, ICTU social policy officer Laura Bambrick, Beckie Wright of Unions21, social policy academic Mary Murphy, Shana Cohen of the progressive think-tank TASC, and Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan.


Fórsa is livestreaming three panel sessions on Tuesday week (9th November) on our call for strong support for State-led responses to Ireland’s post-pandemic massive public health and economic challenges. National and international speakers include HSE chief executive Paul Reid, ICTU social policy officer Laura Bambrick, Beckie Wright of Unions21, social policy academic Mary Murphy, Shana Cohen of the progressive think-tank TASC and Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan.

 

The sessions take place from 2.00pm on Tuesday 9th November, and you can participate through our live stream. You can use this link to join the meeting on the day.

 

What’s it about?

During the pandemic, we saw what can be achieved when the State mobilises financial, organisational and human resources for the common good, when people work together collectively, when citizens have equal access to essential goods and services, and when unions are engaged to help deliver solutions.

 

Now there’s a lot of talk of ‘building back better’ after the pandemic. But what does that mean in practice? And how can we build public and political support for a fair and strong economy, excellent public services available to all, secure and decent work, and concerted action on global heating and other huge challenges facing our planet and its people?

 

These three panel sessions will build on Fórsa’s work over the last 18 months to help turn our commitment to a better post-Covid society into practical policies capable of winning the argument, winning popular support, and winning a better future.

 

Panel one: State priorities and resources

This session will address national spending priorities and how they can be resourced. The discussion will explore how national and European economic decisions can be shaped to support a high-productivity, high-skills economy with a strong social wage. One where all workers can expect security and an income capable of supporting a decent living standard, plus a strong safety net to support those unable to work.

 

Panel two: Quality public services

Our public services stepped up to the mark during the pandemic, and now face huge pent-up non-Covid demand. Looking forward, how do we resource and organise the public sector to take on the pre-coronavirus shortcomings in health, housing, childcare and other public services and move to a future of high-quality public provision with services free at the point of use?

 

Panel three: The future of work

The pandemic demonstrated that remote work and other innovations have the potential to refashion the organisation of work and its relationship with family and community time. How should trade unions respond to this – and the challenges and opportunities of digitisation, ageing populations, lack of access to high quality services like childcare, and a changing employment landscape – in ways that protect workers across the economy?

Read more HERE. 

 

It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE. 

Also in this issue
Call for equal rights for all workers
by Niall Shanahan
 

The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) has called upon the Government to amend the employment permit system, following yesterday’s (28th October) announcement of changes to rules for granting new permits across a range of sectors.

 

It urged business and employment minister Damien English to amend the system so that people on general employment permits are provided the same rights as those on critical skills permits.

 

This would give general employment permit holders the right to freely change employers after two years instead of five, enabling workers to better challenge exploitation. The MRCI said such changes would give migrant workers an equal right to have their immediate family with them, in addition to the right for their family members to work in Ireland.

 

The MRCI has continued to raise concerns of exploitation, bullying and unsafe working conditions across various industries employing people on employment permits over the last 20 years. A 2020 report exposed the exploitative and unsafe working conditions in the meat processing sector, a sector which was granted access to thousands of permits in recent years and is now being granted an additional 2,000 general employment permits.

 

MRCI deputy director Bill Abom said his organisation was deeply concerned that the employment permits system has changed little since its inception, and that a draconian approach to workers’ rights remains.

 

“People on general employment permits must wait five years before they have the right to freely change employer, making it extremely difficult for workers to challenge exploitation, bullying and unsafe conditions,” he said.

 

He added: “People who come to work in Ireland should be afforded the same rights as all workers. As it stands currently, this is not the case. Putting rights in the hand of workers is the best way to combat exploitation. If a worker is being poorly treated, they should be given the option to easily change employer. Right now people are too afraid to speak up against exploitation or bad conditions for fear of losing their employment permit, their income and their immigration status.”

 

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Four day week won’t hit pay
by Mark Corcoran
 

The case for the four-day working week was highlighted at a Fórsa event at ICTU's BDC conference in Belfast earlier this week. The union has been leading the Four Day Week Ireland campaign, which announced earlier this month that 17 companies have signed up to its pilot programme.

 

Launched earlier this year, the pilot aims to trial the effectiveness of reduced working time for Irish businesses.

 

Speaking at the event, Joe O'Connor of 4-Day Week Global said a four-day week stressed that the programme was not about reducing pay or costs, but rather to “work smarter and to work less.”

 

He said that, even before the pandemic, almost two-thirds of employees and employers believed that a four-day week was achievable. He said it was even more desirable in the new post-Covid landscape.

 

Orla Kelly of UCD outlined how the campaign is measuring the impact of working time reduction on productivity, profitability, employee wellbeing, and life satisfaction.

 

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan has repeatedly said that a four-day working model would reduce employee burnout while increasing productivity, and this point was emphasised at the conference by businessman and founder of Perpetual Guardian, Andrew Barnes. He said the way we work today is not fit for purpose, and that a transition to a four-day week would be “better for everyone.”

 

He also emphasised that having an extra day off for an employee gives them the opportunity to upskill themselves to advance their career. Andrew’s company, based in New Zealand, successfully piloted a four-day before implementing it on a permanent basis.

 

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Plan for better work backed
by Bernard Harbor
 

Delegates from unions across the island of Ireland have backed a Fórsa call for better cooperation in communications, research and union organising in emerging growth sectors of the economy.

 

The proposal, adopted at the ICTU conference earlier this week aims to deliver “a brighter future of work centered on quality jobs and quality of life,” including through reduced working time and more flexibility around work location.

 

The Fórsa conference motion also calls for a feasibility study on the development of a new trade union-funded digital-first media platform, along with other joint union initiatives.

 

Moving the motion on ‘building a stronger trade union movement in Ireland,’ Fórsa official Katie Morgan, acknowledged that trade union density – the proportion of the workforce in union membership – has not kept up with employment growth. She called for a public communications campaign to highlight the importance of collective bargaining.

 

“The motion seeks a strategy to position Congress as the leading voice for a brighter future of work, advocating for a better way of working and a better life for workers,” she said.

 

The motion said that the union response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been a triumph for collectivism. “Trade union values of solidarity, fairness, compassion and equality have ever been more relevant, and our vision for the futures should be inspired by a similar collective spirit,” it said.

 

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Betty is re-elected to ICTU executive
 

Betty Tyrrell-Collard has been re-elected to represent Ireland’s trades’ councils on the executive committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

 

Betty chairs the Dublin Council of Trade Unions (DCTU), which brings together representatives of all unions with members in the capital.

 

She’s also a vice chair of Fórsa, a member of the union’s Civil Service Division executive, and branch chair and secretary of the union’s Dublin Central clerical branch.

 

This is Betty’s second two-year term on the ICTU executive. She works in the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment.

 

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Push for unionisation in the digital economy
by Mehak Dugal
 

Greater flexibility around organising in the trade union movement for the digital age is one of the greatest challenges for trade unions in the future, the ICTU conference heard earlier this week.

 

Speaking at a Fórsa’s fringe event at the conference, panellists raised the challenges facing the global trade union movement, and focused on organising in high-tech sectors.

 

Delegates heard of the difficulties experienced by union organisers including non-disclosure agreements, a culture of fear around speaking out, and the lack of a strong collective voice for this sector’s workers.

 

Chaired by incoming ICTU president and Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan, the event’s panel was made up of Fionnuala Ní Bhrógáin, of the Communications Workers Union, Gareth Murphy of the Financial Services Union, and Foxglove director Martha Dark.

 

The meeting acknowledged the significant financial clout of the sector and its anti-union nature, which presented a significant set of challenges to tackle the very low trade union density in this area.

 

Kevin Callinan said the aim of the event was to “highlight the pervasive effect of anti-union practices employed by tech giants on the rest of the economy and collective bargaining in general.”

 

He also added that the traditional ways of organising “will not cut it here”.

 

“Many young workers do not envision themselves staying at their current job indefinitely, so organising long-term around those fixed beliefs will not work. That needs to be integrated in the conversation around organising and planning going forward,” he said.

 

Fionnuala attributed the rapidly changing employment landscape in telecommunications sector in Ireland to the practice of employing outsourced content moderators, who are indirectly employed by these giants. “Many such contracts evade awarding these workers proper rights and work conditions since they aren’t directly employed by the parent company,” she said.

 

Fionnuala also applauded the extremely brave content moderators that have begun speaking out against the dire work practices recently.

 

“It cannot be overstated the damage that viewing graphic content has on the moderators. They are handed an NDA on the first day of work, instilling fear that they cannot speak about their work or its impact. Organising workers in this space will require unions to work together in Ireland and globally to tackle the enormous scale of this challenge,” said Fionnuala.

 

The event also heard that engaging with the already present natural organic networks of workers in this sector would be a starting point in mapping out the organising plan for the tech economy.

 

Martha Dark of Foxglove outlined the need for and importance of litigation for tech workers, and cited the large turnover of workers in companies such as Amazon, as the biggest challenge for unions.

 

“Unions seek to create meaningful long-term relations with workers. That is a particular challenge here. Which is why it is extremely important to introduce strategic litigation in organising these places to not only address issues around the high turnover rate but also target the root cause for why these workers are leaving.”

 

Martha also added that the lack of proper mental health supports was one of the leading reasons for the high turnover rate. “Even wellness coaches for Facebook moderators do not have the appropriate medical training required in many cases,” she said.

 

It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE. 

Update your contact details
by Róisín McKane
 

 

 

 


Fórsa is keen to ensure that we have up-to-date contact details for all our members. You can help us keep you informed by visiting the ‘Update My Details’ page and adding your personal email address (not a work address), home postal address, and mobile phone number.

 

To update your contact details, simply fill in this online form

 

And please share this with your colleagues. If we don’t have their contact details they won’t have received this message.

 

Please note, your home email address helps to ensure direct, safe and more effective communications with you than a workplace email address.

 

Fórsa is urging its members in health, welfare and social care to update their contact details.

 

 

It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE. 

Join Fórsa online
 

 

 

 


Workers who wish to join Fórsa can to do so using a new ‘join online’ function on the union’s website.

 

Going live with the new system follows several months of research, preparation and testing aimed at making it easier than ever to join the union. It also goes live as the union continues to process a large number of new membership applications, as interest in joining the union has surged since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis.

 

Fórsa’s general secretary Kevin Callinan commented: “The current crisis has created the necessity to be able to carry out our business in different ways. Work on this project had commenced before the Covid-19 crisis took hold, and its completion marks a vital step as we tackle the challenges of living in changed times.

 

“We can see that more people want to join a union in response to what’s happening in the wider economy. It’s vital that they can take those initial steps quickly and easily, and making the membership application process more accessible is part of that process.

 

“This is a crucial new venture to enable Fórsa to substantially increase our membership - and to strengthen the union’s hand - at a critical time in the union’s development,” he said.

 

The online facility is a streamlined and simplified membership application process, and will be the quickest and easiest way to join the union. All incoming applications will continue to be subject to check-off and approval by Fórsa branches and the national executive committee, while the new online system is designed to ease the administrative burden on branches.

 

You can join Fórsa online at https://join.forsa.ie/

 

Fórsa: Here to support you
 

 

 

 


Fórsa is here to protect you if you have problems arising from the coronavirus or other workplace issues. The best way to contact the union at this time is HERE.

 

We will deal with queries as quickly as we can but, needless to say, the union will prioritise cases where members’ jobs and incomes are at immediate risk – as well as any serious health and safety issues that may arise.

 

Fórsa has cancelled all face-to-face meetings for the time being. The union is redeploying its staff to prioritise engagement with management on proposals arising from the Covid-19 public health crisis, and to provide rapid and efficient responses to members’ queries and concerns.

 

Fórsa's main phone line (01 817 1500) is now open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively members can use the Contact Us page on the Fórsa website to submit queries directly to the relevant division within Fórsa and this remains the most efficient way to access advice directly.

 

Wherever possible, Fórsa staff have been equipped to work remotely. Therefore, members should not attend Fórsa offices at this time. If you have a query or concern, the best way to raise it is to contact the union HERE.