Trade unions stepped up engagement with Government in response to the escalating fuel crisis, with last week’s meeting of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) marking a renewed focus on coordinated action across unions, employers and the State. The LEEF is currently Ireland’s principal national forum for dialogue between government, employers, and trade unions. 

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) used the meeting to press for both immediate relief measures and longer-term policy responses to address rising fuel and living costs. Fórsa deputy general secretary Katie Morgan was part of the delegation, which proposed targeted supports for workers, in addition to greater flexibility in remote and hybrid working to offset commuting pressures.  

The strong message from unions was that consultation must translate into practical measures that ease the burden on working households. There was also a clear warning that if engagement through the LEEF does not deliver practical outcomes, unions will be forced to consider next steps to protect members’ interests.

This has been reinforced by a strong media and public response to Fórsa’s call for “urgent remedial action” on workplace attendance during the crisis. Following coverage in the Irish Independent, the issue gained further traction across national outlets, including The Journal and a series of radio discussions on RTÉ and regional stations. 

Deputy general secretary Éamonn Donnelly spoke on RTÉ radio about the need to adopt practical solutions to the continuing uncertainty over fuel supplies and cost. He made the case for expanded remote working, where operationally feasible, as a practical and immediate tool to reduce fuel demand, ease congestion, and protect service continuity. He highlighted that this could be achieved with no loss of productivity and no additional costs to the employer. 

Discussions on remote work, and other options to address the fuel crisis, are taking place today (Friday) between Fórsa and the Department of Public Expenditure. Fórsa has continued to position hybrid working as a common-sense response to current conditions, as well as proposing emergency suspension of the provisions in the travel and subsistence circulars which move travelling officers into lower band rates, and exploration of relief measures to offset the unsustainable cost of getting to work when 'in-office' attendance is required. 

The wider implications of the crisis are also emerging across the education sector. Dr Paul Davis, writing in The Irish Times on Wednesday, warned that sustained fuel disruption could see a return to remote learning later this year, and called for urgent “energy-resilient planning” across schools and colleges to safeguard continuity. 

In aviation, uncertainty around global fuel supply continues to affect operations. Fórsa learned this week that Aer Lingus has paused the airline's intake of trainee cabin crew, alongside schedule adjustments linked to operational pressures. The developments highlight the broader economic risks associated with fuel volatility, reinforcing the need for coordinated policy responses that protect both workers and essential services. 

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