New pay terms at Aer Lingus, announced last week, and implemented from Sunday 27th September, were not agreed at the recent engagement with Fórsa at the WRC. However, the union said the airline has significantly improved its position on these initiatives as a result of those talks.
Fórsa has said that new pay terms at Aer Lingus, announced last week, and implemented from Sunday 27th September, were not agreed at the recent engagement at the WRC.
Fórsa official Ashley Connolly said: “No agreement was reached as part of the recent WRC process, though Aer Lingus has significantly improved its position on these initiatives as a result of those talks. This follows the intensive work of Fórsa’s Cabin Crew branch committee and the union's officials," she said.
Aer Lingus has returned Dublin and Cork cabin crew to rostered duties at 50% of pay from last Sunday (27th September). Shannon cabin crew have been returned to rostered duties at 40% of pay.
The measures follow discussions with Fórsa at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), which concluded without agreement two weeks ago. All three bases continue to be affected by the collapse in demand for air travel as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to the new pay and roster measures, the airline set out details of a voluntary severance and extended career break schemes for cabin crew in all three bases, and an optional winter lay-off for Shannon-based crew.
Ashley said the options presented by the company reflected a clearly dire situation, but seemed considered, flexible, and forward-looking in the circumstances.
She added: “However, the union continues to push for improved overall job protection, and has contacted the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, seeking to ensure that any state assistance to airlines is delivered on condition of protection against compulsory redundancies and off-shoring of work undertaken by Irish-based crew.”
The company said it will provide cabin crew staff with the necessary documentation for applicable income supports from the Department of Employment and Social Protection (DEASP). Exits under the terms of the airline’s voluntary severance scheme are to commence in November.
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Senior Fórsa officials met with transport minister Eamon Ryan and his minister of state Hildegarde Naughton last month to seek the return of Shannon airport to the DAA group. The unions campaigned vigorously against the decision to split Shannon from the group at the end of 2012.
Senior Fórsa officials met with transport minister Eamon Ryan and his minister of state Hildegarde Naughton last month to seek the return of Shannon airport to the DAA group. The unions campaigned vigorously against the decision to split Shannon from the group at the end of 2012.
Matt Staunton and Johnny Fox joined representatives of the Shannon group of unions, and also told the ministers that state aid should be withheld from companies that imposed redundancies and off-shoring.
They said Aer Lingus’s decision to put three of its Shannon-based transatlantic aircrafts out to tender illustrated the vulnerability of Ireland’s regional airports. The move could leave Shannon with just one US route from next year, which would hugely damage the regional economy.
Fórsa deputy general secretary Matt Staunton said activity at the base had dropped to practically zero. “The only response from the employer has been to launch a voluntary severance scheme, with no plans to recommence activities,” he said.
Fórsa and other unions are also set to meet the company’s chief executive next Monday (5th of October), and will demand the withdrawal of a 10% pay cut imposed on staff.
The union will also demand the withdrawal of a voluntary severance scheme, which was also introduced by management without agreement. It’s not known how many workers have left the company as a result.
Fórsa official Johnny Fox said he would also be quizzing management on its plans for the long-term security of jobs in the company.
Speaking in advance of the meeting, he indicated that it was unlikely any agreement would emerge. He said this would lead to a dispute, in which case the union would likely refer the issues to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
Negotiations are continuing on a career break scheme, a reduced working hours’ scheme, and proposed changes in work practices. And the unions were in discussions on the possible terms of a voluntary severance scheme before management jumped the gun.
The Irish aviation sector has experienced the biggest decline in Europe, according to a recent report from the Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation.
Meanwhile, Fórsa members employed in the aviation sector have been campaigning for securing greater state and political support for the industry, which has been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The campaign, co-ordinated by the union’s services and enterprises division, has also mobilised aviation workers in airlines, airports and other employments connected to the industry, to write to their local TDs seeking support and highlighting the very precarious circumstances in which the aviation industry is currently operating as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
The Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 was passed by a Dáil vote on Wednesday night (30th September) following two days of debate in the Dáil, and its passage through the Seanad last week.
The Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 was passed by a Dáil vote on Wednesday night (30th September) following two days of debate in the Dáil, and its passage through the Seanad last week. The legislation is designed to help to improve the current process of appeals for tree-felling licences.
Fórsa had said the bill needed to be passed into law as a matter of urgency because the current legislation has led to a crippling backlog of appeals against licences, which the union has warned puts up to 12,000 jobs at risk.
At almost 700, the number of forestry appeals received by the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) so far in 2020 is almost three times the amount received in 2017 and 2018 combined.
Responding to Cabinet’s approval of the bill last week, Fórsa official Johnny Fox said it was reasonable to have an appeals process, but the current system was flawed to the extent of undermining the entire industry.
“We’ve argued that the Government needs to put in place the necessary resources for the Forestry Appeals Commission (FAC) to process all the remaining appeals within the next three months. Without action the industry faces a catastrophic blow.
“The new legislation is welcome and we’re glad to see the legislation passed by the Oireachtas within the timeframe outlined by the minister of state. Her confirmation that the capacity of the FAC is to be increased is also welcome, as those additional resources are badly needed to clear the existing backlog,” he said.
Fórsa made a number of proposals on the need to amend the legislation and deploy additional resources in a submission as part of the public consultation on the draft bill.
During last week’s Seanad debate the minister said she could not give a precise timeline for how quick the licensing system would be, once the bill is passed. But she was hopeful it would bring about a “significant improvement” in the efficiency of appeals.
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Irish unions are calling for the reversal of reductions in the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP).
Irish unions are calling for the reversal of reductions in the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP). The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has also sought an urgent review of the adequacy of supports for businesses closed down on foot of the pandemic, in order to protect incomes and secure jobs.
Hundreds of Fórsa members in the aviation sector and elsewhere are depending on PUP payments right now. And ICTU says recent localised restrictions have disproportionately affected the low-paid, young people and migrants, who are again heavily reliant on the PUP.
ICTU general secretary Patricia King wrote to the Taoiseach last week looking for an urgent review of the supports available for businesses that have closed their doors for a second time in light of the additional restrictions that have been imposed in Dublin and Donegal.
The number of people on the support had been declining, but the new restrictions are affecting people across many sectors and more people will be requiring financial support again.
In a recent interview, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government was reviewing the PUP system with a view to targeting the sectors worst hit by the pandemic.
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The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has withdrawn from the Low Pay Commission (LPC), the Government-established body that makes recommendations on the rate of the statutory minimum wage.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has withdrawn from the Low Pay Commission (LPC), the Government-established body that makes recommendations on the rate of the statutory minimum wage.
Congress general secretary Patricia King said it became clear during discussions that other members of the Commission were not prepared to propose an increase higher than 1%, or 10 cent an hour, next year.
The statutory minimum wage was belatedly increased to €10.10 for most workers last February. Patricia said ICTU could not now support a recommendation below 2% for the lowest-paid workers in the country.
“If we have learned anything as a society in this pandemic it is that we must value work and those who carry it out. We must make work pay. Many of the workers on the minimum wage are essential workers who have helped keep our economy going through this Covid-19 pandemic.
“There can be no going back to the old ways where the lowest paid are left behind. We will continue to campaign for a just increase,” she said.
ICTU has also called on the Government to align the national minimum wage with the higher non-statutory ‘living wage,’ which is a measure of the income needed to support a socially acceptable standard of living.
It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called on the Government to make sick pay provision mandatory for all workers in the country.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called on the Government to make sick pay provision mandatory for all workers in the country.
The move came as a poll of 1,200 people, conducted by Ireland Thinks last weekend, found that 87% of people support a legal right to sick pay for all workers.
At present, workers in Ireland do not have a legal right to sick pay and it lies solely at the discretion of the employer to include or not in a contract of employment. While Fórsa has negotiated sick pay arrangements for almost all its members, up to half the country’s workforce have no sick pay provision.
This includes hundreds of thousands of low-paid essential workers and other vulnerable employees.
By contrast, virtually every other European country requires employers to pay workers – in full or in part – when they are unable to work because of illness.
Last Monday ICTU published a guide to sick pay, which showed how Ireland falls behind European norms. Its general secretary, Patricia King, said most high-income European countries guaranteed at least two weeks of full sick pay.
She said the Covid-19 pandemic had exposed the failings of Ireland’s system to protect workers against the loss of income, including the lack of a legal entitlement to sick pay.
ICTU’s social policy officer, Laura Bambrick, said that country’s voluntary system of sick pay was not working.
“Ensuring workers are well at work is a basic issue of safety and simply the right thing to do. When workers are unwell they need to rest to recover. When sick workers stay home they reduce the spread of infection and the risk of workplace accidents; they keep us all safe,” she said.
ICTU is contacting all Oireachtas members to call on them to legislate for paid sick leave in line with workers’ rights in the rest of Europe.
Almost 200 people tuned into Fórsa’s webinar on remote working last Friday (25th September), with workers and employers from across the public and private sectors joining the discussion.
Almost 200 people tuned into Fórsa’s webinar on remote working last Friday (25th September), with workers and employers from across the public and private sectors joining the discussion.
‘Out of office: Remote working after Covid-19’ featured a panel of three expert speakers who explored issues like health and safety, work-life balance, productivity, and staying connected with colleagues.
Addressing participants on the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation’s (DBEI) 2019 pre-Covid study on remote working, DBEI assistant principal Ruth Morrissey said there was strong support for remote working among both employers and employees.
“What drove employers to be interested was the employee demand. They also noticed it was a huge motivational factor for staff,” she said.
Ruth said remote working could also unlock pools of talent, which was previously inaccessible, including people with disabilities or childcare responsibilities.
Fórsa’s head of communications Bernard Harbor outlined the finding of the union’s opinion survey which, with over 4,300 respondents, was the largest of its kind in Ireland.
“The results revealed a huge appetite for remote working, with people really favouring a hybrid model, blending time worked remotely and in the workplace,” he said.
Bernard caveated this by flagging issues surrounding home working environments.
“Given the speed at which some workers were catapulted into remote working at the beginning of the Covid crisis, we must now ensure that they are appropriately equipped with both the adequate infrastructure and guidelines to safely carry out their duties.
"We have moved very quickly from this being a conversation about the future, to a conversation about the now," he said.
Also joining the panel was Jenny Darmody, deputy editor of the online tech news site, Silicon Republic. Jenny discussed what employers need to consider when looking after their employees in this new way of working, and highlighted some of the challenges currently faced.
“In theory, remote working should deliver a greater work-life balance for staff. However, what we’re hearing increasing reports of is a trap of working longer hours than usual from home, where your work life actually bleeds into your personal life.
“Another issue is having employers and companies trust staff to work independently from home. This is a culture which needs to be slowly instilled, as it did not previously exist,” she said.
To watch back the event on Fórsa’s Facebook page, click here.
To review Fórsa's submission to the DBEI's public consultation on remote working, click here.
For information on the DBEI's existing guidance for working remotely, click here. This page will also be updated with enhanced guidance based on the findings from the department's public consultation.
For more information on Fórsa's employee opinion survey on remote working, click here.
It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has brought its advice on work attendance in line with the Government’s guidelines on living with Covid-19, which were published in mid-September.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has brought its advice on work attendance in line with the Government’s guidelines on living with Covid-19, which were published in mid-September.
A revised ‘frequently-asked questions’ document, distributed to managers across the civil and public service this week, says that workers in areas designated ‘level three’ in official guidelines should “work from home unless [it’s] absolutely necessary to attend in person.”
Staff in areas placed at the lower levels one and two should “work at home if possible,” with those at level two only attending work premises for essential on-site meetings, induction or training.
So far, counties Dublin and Donegal have been put at level three, while the rest of the country remains at level two. But there is speculation that other counties may soon be added to the higher level, which carries tougher restrictions on work, travel, public transport and assembly.
The development came as the acting chief medical officer yesterday (1st October) called on Dublin employers to do more to promote remote working as part of the response to the rising number of cases in the capital.
Answering questions at the Oireachtas special committee on the Covid-19 response, Dr Ronan Glynn said: “Look at the amount of traffic on the roads. It’s hard to believe people have taken the message to heart that they should not be going to work unless it’s absolutely essential.”
Last week, Dr Glynn and his Northern Ireland counterpart jointly called on employers either side of the northern border to facilitate remote working to help beat the virus.
Phase three restrictions on travel say that people should not leave the county, and that public transport will be reserved for essential workers and essential purposes.
Face masks remain mandatory on public transport in all phases, while capacity restrictions remain at 50% in phases one, two and three. The framework advises everyone to walk or cycle if possible.
It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
Fórsa staff and activists donned their cycle gear last week as they set off on the union’s Covid Compliant Conference Charity Cycle in aid of mental health charities.
Fórsa staff and activists donned their cycle gear last week as they set off on the union’s Covid Compliant Conference Charity Cycle in aid of mental health charities.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, Fórsa’s traditional biennial charity cycle from Limerick to Killarney, which has raised over €150,000 in recent years, was unable to take place in its usual form. The event organisers pressed ahead with the union fundraiser, with ensuring that Covid guidelines were adhered to.
The charity cycle, which took place last Friday saw Dublin-based participants bike 100km around the county. Members and activists outside of Dublin took part in their own 100km cycle in various locations.
Proceeds from the cycle will be distributed amongst four charities: First Fortnight, Limerick Suicide Watch, Pieta House Kerry, and Suicide or Survive.
All are involved in suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and support for families who have been bereaved by suicide.
Fórsa official Dessie Robinson explained that these charities need our help more than ever. “Mental health charities have seen a huge drop in donations due to the cancelling of fundraising events, despite an increase in demand of services. They need our support,” he said.
Suicide claimed over 400 lives last year, and thousands more are suffering with mental health problems. “Anything that we can do collectively to help is always appreciated,” said Dessie.
Donations to the charity cycle are still open and Dessie is calling on those to give what they can. “In the past branches have been very generous and we are again asking for you to dig deep to support this worthy cause,” he said.
If you want to help, send cheques made out to ‘Fórsa Charity Cycle’ to Bríd Ruddle, Fórsa, Nerney’s Court, Dublin, D01 R2C5.
It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
Fórsa member Leonard Shiels, who’s campaigning to be elected as an An Post worker-director, wants assurances that the proposed relocation of Dublin’s GPO won’t leave the company too financially stretched to negotiate on pay in future.
Fórsa member Leonard Shiels, who’s campaigning to be elected as an An Post worker-director, wants assurances that the proposed relocation of Dublin’s GPO won’t leave the company too financially stretched to negotiate on pay in future.
Leonard, who describes himself as an ordinary worker, with a grassroots campaign and a focused and bottom-up approach, is also calling on An Post to develop worker and community-focussed plans to secure the future of Ireland’s postal network.
Offering a strong and articulate voice for workers on the An Post board, he says: “Everyone’s familiar with their local postmen and post office, and I’m trying to represent every single ordinary post worker. They need to feel their voice is heard and communicated to the management at the top.”
Fórsa and other unions are currently in discussions about An Post’s proposal to relocate the GPO.
“In the wider economy, big companies like Google are rethinking decisions about expansion or relocation post-Covid. Who knows what the future will bring with this pandemic?
“It’s essential to reconsider the need for a new office, and what will work best for the company, its workers and its customers in the current situation,” he said.
He fears the cost of renting alternative premises could affect the future pay of hard-working postal workers. And he said commuting times for some workers could rise by two or three hours a week if the move goes ahead.
“Additional travel time and commuting costs are major concerns for workers. Staff from all locations are also becoming concerned about the costs of the proposed relocation. If An Post spends €7 million extra a year on premises it could have a significant impact on the company’s ability to give pay rises into the future,” he warned.
Leonard called on the company to engage fully with Fórsa and other unions – and with the An Post board. And he said the company would do better to focus on the future of postal services, including the situation of rural post workers and the communities they serve.
“As post office footfall declines, we need to develop worker-focused plans for the future of Irish post. Many local post offices – large and small, urban and rural – will be forced to close if their financial conditions don’t change in the short-term. We must remain vigilant in these uncertain times, and also be ready to exploit the opportunities created by the surge in parcels demand,” he said.
Leonard’s call came as the Irish Post Network this week called for urgent State support to prevent the collapse of the Irish post network. Its latest report said the financial viability and sustainability of the network was being “challenged like never before in its history."
Leonard pledged that, as a worker-director, he would bring these issues to the boardroom table “I will question the broader impact of every decision made at the top level. The role of worker-director ensures the voice of workers is heard and represented at the board of directors of An Post, and that is exactly what I aim to do,” he said.
Leonard is asking for the support of the trade union network and requesting Fórsa members to urge any An Post staff they know to vote for his worker-led approach.
“I’m very proud to work for An Post and I am offering myself as a new independent voice who'll represent all workers and their issues as if they were my own,” he said.
View and share Leonard’s campaign video to show your support for his election campaign.
Fórsa has urged employers on both sides of the northern border to facilitate flexible working arrangements – including remote working – for staff who commute to work in different jurisdictions on the island of Ireland. The union has also appealed to managers to minimise demands on staff to cross the border for work-related meetings.
The move comes after the chief medical officers for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland last week called on people to avoid all unnecessary travel across the border.
In a joint statement, Dr Ronan Glynn and Dr Michael McBride also recommended that employers on both sides of the border “make every effort to facilitate employees to work from home in so far as is possible.”
The intervention came on foot of large numbers of new Covid-19 cases in Donegal, Derry, Strabane and Fermanagh.
Fórsa officials say a number of employers, including the children and families agency Tusla, have been responsible and proactive. But this approach hasn’t been universal.
Donegal was put at ‘level three’ under the Government’s new framework for living with Covid-19 last week. This places additional restrictions on travel, work, public transport and assembly – including a recommendation not to leave the county unless it’s essential to do so.
Under phase three of the framework, employees must “work from home unless [it’s] absolutely necessary to attend in person.” This compares to a softer exhortation to work at home “if possible” under phases one and two.
Fórsa’s north-west official, Michelle Connaughton, said hundreds of workers would normally cross the Donegal-Derry border for work each day.
“Our priority is to protect staff and service users, and to do everything necessary to stop the spread of the virus. We need managers on both sides of the border to show leadership and give clarity to their staff, who should not be expected to travel across the border for work purposes unless it’s absolutely essential and unavoidable,” he said.
The union’s north-east official, Eimear Ryan, urged Fórsa members to contact the union if they have concerns. “Throughout the pandemic Fórsa has worked to ensure members can abide by the necessary restrictions without conflict at work. If you’re in doubt, the best way to get advice is through the ‘contact us’ icon on the union website – forsa.ie,” she said.
Health authorities in the Republic and the north say they are working closely to address the rising trend in case numbers on both sides of the border.
It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
Pay scales for Fórsa members in the civil and public sector have been updated on the union’s website to reflect the final 2% adjustment under the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA), which came into effect yesterday (1st October).
The adjustment applies to staff across the civil and public service, ‘section 38’ organisations including voluntary hospitals, and non-commercial State agencies covered by the PSSA. Cuts to fixed allowances are also being reversed this month.
The deal, which was negotiated by Fórsa and other unions in 2017, expires at the end of 2020. Exploratory talks on a successor agreement began last month, and are currently continuing. Led by Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan, the exploratory phase will establish whether the two sides believe there is scope to negotiate a new deal.
Over its three-year lifetime, the PSSA brought pay adjustments of more than 7% for over 70% of civil and public servants, with slightly smaller percentage adjustments for the higher-paid.
PSSA and earlier adjustments mean that around 90% of civil and public servants have now had their basic pay rates restored to 2009 levels. But most of their incomes are lower than in 2009 because of other factors, including increased pension contributions.
You can view the revised pay scales on the Fórsa website HERE.
It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is calling on union member and others to sign up to its democracy pledge.
The federation, which Fórsa supports through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, is calling on citizens to reaffirm support for democracy against a background of right-wing populism, fake news and anti-union forces.
It says governments are being put to the test by a convergence of crises like Covid-19, the climate emergency, unregulated technology, inequality and the scale of corporate power.
“It’s more important than ever that we build trust back up in democracy and ensure transparent, accountable governments,” according to ITUC leader Sharon Burrows.
She wants trade union members to sign the pledge, which supports the fundamental principal of democracy, with an equal say and an equal vote.
You can help us keep you up-to-date with union information, news and advice by checking your contact details and amending them if necessary. If we have your home and personal contact details (personal email, mobile phone number, and home address) we can get information to you quickly and directly. You can update your contact details HERE.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is calling on union member and others to sign up to its democracy pledge.
The federation, which Fórsa supports through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, is calling on citizens to reaffirm support for democracy against a background of right-wing populism, fake news and anti-union forces.
It says governments are being put to the test by a convergence of crises like Covid-19, the climate emergency, unregulated technology, inequality and the scale of corporate power.
“It’s more important than ever that we build trust back up in democracy and ensure transparent, accountable governments,” according to ITUC leader Sharon Burrows.
She wants trade union members to sign the pledge, which supports the fundamental principal of democracy, with an equal say and an equal vote.
Fórsa has published new advice for workers who will be working remotely in the medium or long-term.
The guidance was produced as the Government’s recently-announced ‘roadmap for reopening society and business’, made it clear that many public servants and others will continue to work from home for some time.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the working circumstances of almost half of Ireland’s workers, with more than a third now working from home. This extended period of remote working is a new experience for most.
While some have now established a productive and rewarding remote working routine, it can be a struggle at times.
Working at home: Staying safe, connected, healthy and productive contains advice on health and safety, setting up a workspace, breaks, staying in touch with managers and colleagues, and balancing work with home life and childcare.
The guide also contains useful tips on data protection, cybersecurity, and safeguarding your mental health.
Róisín McKane of Fórsa’s Communications Unit drafted the guidance. “Many union members could be working remotely for longer than they ever expected. This information will help them to navigate home working for an extended period.
“You may be out of the workplace, but you can still rely on certain legal protections, and you should look to your employer for the supports you need to do your job safely and well,” she said.
Fórsa has backed a new initiative by Mandate and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), which seeks new legislation to resolve the Debenhams dispute.
The move has also been unanimously backed by a national representative group of Mandate members from all Debenhams stores.
ICTU says its initiative would help resolve the long-standing deadlock between the Debenhams staff and management, while providing protections for workers who find themselves in similar situations in future.
Earlier this year, Debenhams went into liquidation with the loss of over 1,000 jobs. The sudden announcement, coupled with the Coivd-19 pandemic, denied the workers access a collective redundancy agreement negotiated by Mandate and the company, as would normally have been the case.
Fórsa has called on its members to show their support for the ex-Debenhams workers.
The proposed legal protections would restrict companies from using limited liability and corporate restructuring to avoid obligations to their staff. And it would mean staff were protected when their employer goes into liquidation.
If implemented, the ex-Debenhams workers would be entitled to an agreed redundancy package worth four weeks’ of pay per year of service.
It also proposes the establishment of a fund that employers would pay into, and which could be used in the event of future liquidations, and calls on the Government to make an advanced payment from this fund to the ex-Debenhams workers.
ICTU says several European countries have similar legal provisions. Mandate general secretary Gerry Light said the proposal “would bring an end to the continuing abuse of workers in this country.”
The Debenhams workers have been campaigning for a fair redundancy settlement for nearly six months. You can watch their campaign video HERE.
It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.
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.
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.
