Paid-up Fórsa members working in the civil and public service, and in non-commercial State agencies, have now received an email with a ‘unique voter code,’ which enables them to cast their vote in the ballot on a proposed new public service agreement.

The union is urging members to update their details or contact the ballot helpdesk if they haven’t received their ‘unique voter code,’ or if they’re having difficulty voting on the deal called Building Momentum.

The union has also produced short videos about the ballot and how to vote.

If accepted, Building Momentum would run from January 2021 to December 2022. It allows for two pay increases, each worth 1% of annual salary or €500 a year, whichever is the greater. This means the deal is worth substantially more for lower paid workers in percentage terms.

A third increase, worth a further 1%, would be available for grade-based bargaining for all public service grades. This could either be used to deal with issues affecting particular grades, or it could be taken as a straight 1% pay award.

Building Momentum is also the first public service agreement to address additional working hours introduced for many civil and public servants under the 2013 Haddington Road agreement.

The ballot closes on Thursday 11^th February.

The unique voter codes ensure the security and integrity of the ballot because it means only eligible Fórsa members can vote in the secret ballot, and that they can only vote once.

In a first for the union, the national ballot is being conducted entirely electronically because of ‘level five’ Covid restrictions on travel and assembly. Fórsa deputy general secretary Matt Staunton said it had been necessary for the union to quickly adopted electronic voting to allow the ballot to go ahead.

“Fórsa members should make their voice heard, and not let others decide for you. The union is making every effort to ensure that eligible members get their chance to vote. If you are reading this, and know of colleagues who don’t currently get the Fórsa ebulletin, please urge them to go the website and submit their contact details through the ‘update my details’ icon,” he said.

Last month, Fórsa’s elected National Executive overwhelmingly decided to recommend acceptance of the agreement.

Get details of the proposed agreement HERE.  

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