Better In a Trade Union is an all-island campaign which aims to ensure that all working people are aware of the benefits of being part of a trade union, and the strength of being part of a collective, representing and negotiating as a group of employees rather than as individuals.

Created by ICTU, this ambitious campaign features real trade union members talking about the benefits of trade union membership, in their own words.

The campaign seeks to profile the diverse nature of trade union members in Ireland, and the benefits that trade unions bring not only to members, but to society in general.

The members featured in the campaign talk in their own words about the benefits of being in a trade union, what it means to them, and how being in a union improves their working life. Fórsa members Isabella De Luca and Chris Cawley took part, and you can watch their videos on the Better in a Trade Union website.

The campaign will launch publicly on the 14^th of February 2024, with events in Dublin and Belfast, and will run until the end of April, culminating with the first ever Union Week, a celebration of progressive change taking place around May Day.

Union Week will be an exciting focal point for members to get involved in the campaign. We’re asking Fórsa branches and members to hold Union Week events in their workplace or region. These events could be coffee mornings, table quizzes, fun runs, seminars or concerts.

The idea is to encourage participation and activism amongst current union members and create an opportunity to encourage workers who aren’t yet members to join.

In the weeks ahead the union will be in touch with further details and information on how to order a Union Week materials pack.

With the Better in a Trade Union campaign, we are inviting prospective trade union members to be part of something bigger, so get involved and help us send a powerful message to the people of Ireland, that we are all better in a trade union.

The more members we have in the trade union movement the stronger we are, and the greater our  influence to push for the rights and benefits of working people across the island of Ireland.

The campaign can be followed on social media, and we would encourage our members and activists to follow, like, and share posts to help increase reach. Check out the campaign website for more information.

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

The School Secretaries branch of Fórsa is to lodge claims for improvements in sick leave and bereavement leave, following motions approved at its successful AGM held last Saturday (20th January) in Cork.

The union’s head of Education Andy Pike said: “The new School Secretaries Pay Agreement commits the Department of Education to discussing additional paid sick leave with Fórsa.

“Now that the process of assimilating members to the new pay scale is complete, we will request that management commence these talks.

“In parallel, we will lodge a fresh claim seeking the application of 20 days’ paid bereavement leave for school secretaries. This leave is already available to public servants on the loss of a close relative.

“This next phase of the campaign will seek to align School Secretary terms and conditions more closely with those of public servants,” he said.

Andy added that a strategy for making progress on the provision of pensions is being developed and will be discussed with the branch committee and the Education Divisional Executive in April.

At last Saturday’s AGM, branch chair Luisa Carty expressed thanks to outgoing committee members Edel Cooney, Susan Phelan and Lesley Davey and outlined the significant progress the branch had made during the year.

She added: “School secretaries received their first Department payslip in September, when payroll went live for those who signed up to the agreement.

“This was a momentous day, finally getting recognition from the Department. We are no longer the invisible ones in the education system,” she said.

Luisa said another breakthrough saw a second circular covering school secretaries issued by the Department, covering secretaries’ automatic increase in pay on 1^st October 2023.

She added: “That is why we must continue to bring in those secretaries who have stayed out of the union or are taking up the job for the first time. So, if you know anyone who is not a Fórsa member and working as a school secretary please reach out to them and invite them to join the union and help us make their working lives just that bit better.”

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

Fórsa has nominated 5 elected SNA Representatives to serve on the Department of Education working groups developing proposals in the following areas:

• Working Group 1: Review and Development of the SNA Role
• Working Group 2: Establishing a Quality Assurance Framework
• Working Group 3: Establish a Learning and Development Programme
• Working Group 4: Supporting SNA Recruitment, Retention and Diversity
• Working Group 5: Devising a Communications Strategy

Our SNA representatives will work with Head of Education Andy Pike and Assistant General Secretary Shane Lambert who will also be attending the working groups. These talks will commence in February and regular updates will issue to Branches and members on developments.

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

Following representations made by Fórsa, the Department of Education is to publish Circular 0012/2024 titled “The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) – Responsibilities of Data Controllers in respect of the Occupational Health Service (OHS)” on 1^st February next.

This circular makes clear the duties and obligations of Schools and Medmark under the GDPR Regulations to allow full access by staff to their own personal data. This arises due to difficulties members experienced when requesting a copy of their own Occupational Health Report. The Circular details the obligation to store and secure data correctly and to allow access to the reports at the request of the employee.

This development ensures that when an issue arises as a consequence of an Occupational Health referral, the employee will be able to see the Occupational Health Report. Up to now a number of members had been denied access to the reports on the basis that the report was claimed to be confidential to the school. Fórsa Head of Education Andy Pike said that “The publication of this Circular will end the farcical situation whereby the patient is denied access to the doctor’s report on their own health issues. These reports may be requested by the Board of Management but the contents should always be disclosed to the employee. We are pleased this anomaly has now been addressed.”

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

As Annual General Meeting (AGM) season ramps up, we’ve created a handy Fórsa AGM toolkit to support branches in getting the word out and mobilising participation.

What’s in the Fórsa AGM toolkit?

Posters

This set of posters are designed to be printed locally, with space left for you to write in the exact details of each meeting. There’s even a handy QR code to encourage easy sign ups. You can download them here.

Membership Benefits Leaflet

We also have a new membership benefits leaflet which branches can print locally. It outlines all the advantages of joining Fórsa, and can serve as both a recruitment tool, and a reminder for current members. The leaflet has been emailed to branch secretaries and is available to download here.

Guide on how to run an online AGM

In response to requests received from branches we have also produced a downloadable PDF on running online AGMs. This resource delves into key strategies and best practices for running successful online meetings. The guide also provides practical tips for managing participant engagement, handling technical glitches, and fostering productive proceedings.

Preparing For Fórsa Conference

Finally, this guide will help you prepare for conference at your AGM by including guidelines for drafting motions, and templates for your AGM documents.

The full toolkit is available here for download.

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

Talks that began yesterday morning at 11am, continued through the night, and into this morning, Friday 26th January. A deal has been negotiated. The PSC negotiators will brief affiliate unions at 10am this morning. 

After that meeting concludes Fórsa will contact members with further information later today.

Unions and Government representatives returned to the WRC yesterday following an invitation to meet under its auspices and to formally update the Commission on their respective positions.

Fórsa members working in the public sector and state agencies stand to benefit from the agreement.

Talks were put on hold earlier this month after a pay offer by the Government side failed to take into account the increasing gap between wages and the rising cost of living. Talks were then paused to allow for reflection.

During this period the officers of the Public Services Committee continued to brief affiliate unions who approved wording for a ballot on industrial action if talks failed.

The four officers of the Public Services Committee of the ICTU are:
 
•    Chair: Kevin Callinan, general secretary, Fórsa
•    Secretary: John King, deputy general secretary, SIPTU
•    Vice chair: John Boyle, general secretary, INTO
•    Vice chair: Phil Ní Sheaghdha, general secretary, INMO

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

Start the new year off by making your health a priority and making the most of the Fórsa’s partnership with Cornmarket.

A series of free health insurance webinars have been organised by Cornmarket for Fórsa members, designed to demystify insurance coverage, while thousands of invites to potentially lifesaving free breast or prostrate health appointments have been extended to members.

Fórsa's director of membership Seán McElhinney will kick off the health insurance sessions, providing an overview, while Dermot Goode, a guru in the world of healthcare benefits will use his years of experience at VHI, BUPA Ireland, and Cornmarket to navigate topics like inquiring about renewal, decoding the Upgrade Rule and optimising your plan. There will be an opportunity to seek out some personalised advice through a live Q&A too. You can register here.

“Whether you're navigating the intricacies of health insurance for the first time or seeking insights on cost-saving strategies during your renewal period, these webinars aim to address your concerns. This collaboration presents an excellent chance for Fórsa members to enhance their understanding of health insurance, guided by approachable experts,” said Seán McElhinney.

Tackling cancer is also at the forefront of the joint work between Fórsa and Cornmarket, with Dublin GAA stars Leah Caffrey and James McCarty rolling up their sleeves as part of the Pink and Blue Power Programme for Members of the Fórsa Salary Protection Scheme.

The last programme in 2019 was launched in response to the high level of cancer claims in the scheme. The statistics are harsh: prostate cancer affects one out of every seven men, while breast cancer affects one out of every nine women. At the time sadly, five Fórsa members were diagnosed with many sent for further tests.

"This is vital stuff," Seán McElhinney emphasised. "It’s an opportunity for a physical examination with a GP and a referral if necessary. The invitations are being issued in phases throughout January, May, and July."

Pink & Blue Power is a benefit of the Fórsa Salary Protection Scheme. Not a member of the Scheme? Visit cornmarket.ie/forsa for more on benefits and how to apply. The last health care seminar is taking place on Wednesday 31st January and registration is available here.

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

A symposium on the experiences of essential workers during COVID-19 was held in UCD last week. The event built on a survey by the Nevin Economic Research Institute(NERI), which looked at how the pandemic impacted essential workers.

The event addressed which jobs were deemed ‘essential’, the workers’ experiences, and the impact COVID-19 had on them. It also tackled the questions of how the State has served these workers since and what could be improved.

One of the main takeaways from the survey was the gendered impact of COVID-19 on essential workers. 45% of female essential workers experienced a high risk of exposure compared to 28% of male workers.

The other result of note was that those with union representation felt their concerns about workplace safety were addressed more than those without. The EU directive on collective bargaining was cited as one way to increase this type of protection, in preparation for future similar crises.

The INMO’s General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, spoke on the gendered impact of the pandemic on essential workers, as well the experiences of migrant healthcare staff, who often lacked family for childcare and other supports. She also spoke about the narrowness of how we view healthcare in Ireland, saying “The funding of the health service should be seen as an investment in keeping people well.”

The symposium also heard from Dr Tony Holohan, former Chief Medical Officer. Speaking at the event he said: “During the pandemic, we were all in it together, or at least we should have been. Today shows us that we have some way to go on this.” He touched on issues from migration to climate change, and on the need to holistically measure our success and not solely focus on economic measures such as GDP.

The full report from NERI can be found here.

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

Members can now register for the Fórsa Global Solidarity Spring School, which will take place on the 1st and 2nd of March 2024, in Nerney’s Court, Dublin 1.

The event will provide a unique opportunity for interested members to discuss a range of international, trade union and human rights issues. Participants will hear about projects that the Fórsa actively fund across the world, and it will also be an opportunity to learn about the union’s global solidarity work. Delegates can also enjoy a social event on the Friday evening.

The two-day event will kick off on Friday 1^st March from 4.30pm and will feature panel discussions and guest speakers on topics including the war on Palestine, the rise of the far right, and the global fight for trade unions, amongst others.

With speakers including Paapa Danquah, Legal Director from the ITUC, Niamh McDonald from the Hope and Courage Collective, and Ciarán O’Connor from the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, the event promises to be exciting and engaging.

Spaces are limited so members are encouraged to register early. You can register for the school here.

Meals will be provided, and attendees who require accommodation can avail of a Fórsa negotiated rate of €155 B&B at the Dublin One Hotel. Bookings should be made through Hotel Solutions by contacting marily@hotel-solutions.ie. This rate is available for a limited time only. (Note: A credit or debit card will be required on booking. Branches must book and pay for their delegates accommodation.)

If you have any queries, you can email them to internationalsolidarity@forsa.ie , and we look forward to welcoming you to the next Global Solidarity Spring School.

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

On Thursday 25th February Fórsa supported a demonstration at Dáil Éireann calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The event was organised by a group of healthcare workers who had drafted an open letter to the government on the current crisis in the area.

Workers from all health disciplines signed the letter which was presented to politicians in attendance outside Leinster House. The letter highlighted the serious humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region and called on the Irish government to take a more active role in addressing the situation.

The petition stated “We call on Ireland, as a party to the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention, to act in line with her values and the specific obligation to prevent genocide.”

The grassroots campaign group was formed earlier this year and collected the signatures of over 1,000 healthcare workers in just two days.

Speakers at the event highlighted their disappointment with Ireland’s response to date and described a lack of action by government as being unacceptable.

Fórsa member of the Dublin Care Services branch Mark Kerins said: “We sent a letter to government ministers to ask for a ceasefire and also to support the South African case in the International Criminal Court.

“I'm proud to be here as a trade union member, as a health care worker, and support the healthcare workers in Gaza. It's important the union gets behind us to use our power and numbers to enact change not just in our society, but also in solidarity with other people around the globe.”

You can read the full letter here.

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