Fórsa branches are gearing up across the country to take part in the second annual ‘Trade Union week’.  

Better in a Trade Union is a joint union campaign that aims to build union membership. Trade Union week is a celebration of unions and their members, with events throughout the week designed to empower membership across Ireland and ensure that all workers are aware of the benefits of being in a trade union, and the strength people have as part of a collective. 

Fórsa had high levels of participation among branches last year during the first ever Trade Union week and we are all set to exceed that this year.   

Featuring events organised by public and private sector workers from across the island of Ireland, the Better in a Trade Union campaign highlights key benefits such as enhanced job security, advice and support and improved terms and conditions of employment. 

Fórsa national secretary and Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Vice President Katie Morgan said: “We now find ourselves in a deeply unpredictable and precarious landscape. This economic climate necessitates the protection and unrelenting promotion of collective bargaining, so be part of the fight and call on your colleagues to join a union too.” 

Now entering its second year, a key part of the campaign is Union Week, which will run from Monday 28th April to Friday 2nd May. 

As part of Trade Union Week, numerous Fórsa branches are hosting events in their workplace. If you would like to host an event too here are some ideas of what you can do to get involved!

The purpose of these events is to talk to your colleagues about why you’re in the union and why they should join one too. 

For example, the University Hospital Limerick branch will host an ice cream van onsite to ‘break the ice’ with colleagues, while events will take place in schools, hospitals, offices and libraries around the country. We’ll be sharing photos of events on our social media channels all through the exciting week.   

Hosting a Trade Union Week event presents an exciting opportunity to engage with your colleagues about Fórsa in a relaxed and informal environment. While we have provided some guidance on how to approach hosting an event, you can be as creative and imaginative as you like in developing your own event. And you can let us know about it here, so we don’t miss it!  

We want to fully capture the scope of planned events so we can better tailor our support for participating branches. 

If you have any questions about hosting a Trade Union Week event, please contact campaigns@forsa.ie 

Fórsa’s director of campaigns, Kevin Donoghue, encouraged branches to get involved and said: “Trade Union Week events present a great opportunity to celebrate union membership and underline why unions matter. Recent international events show that union membership is as important as ever.” 

“Here in Ireland some workers still face opposition from their employers even if they just want to join a trade union, and we need to do everything in our power to change that”. 

“Fórsa branches are gearing up across the country for their events, and we’re calling on every workplace to get involved. Host an event, talk to your coworkers, and build this movement to demand a future where workers hold the real power. Given the current political climate, there is no better time to organise — Trade Union Week is a great opportunity to start.” 

Bespoke branded merchandise with the ‘Better in a Trade Union’ and Fórsa logos are also on the way for branches who pre-ordered them through the union and will be reaching them soon.   

As part of Trade Union Week celebrations, ICTU is also hosting a symposium on 1st May to mark the 25th anniversary of Ireland's minimum wage. Speakers from Fórsa, Connect, SIPTU and the Communication Workers Union will all take part. You can find out more about that event here and register for it by emailing unionweek@ictu.ie 

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.