Members are invited to a coffee morning in Nerney's Court before the march on Saturday 17th May.
Fórsa is looking for a team of volunteers to help organise and take part in Fórsa's next presence at the national demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 17th May. We will be hosting a coffee morning in Nerney’s court from 12pm before the march, so come along and meet like-minded union members before the demo.
The march will begin at the Garden of Remembrance at 1pm and finish outside the Dáil on Molesworth Street/Kildare Street, to bring our demands to the Irish government’s doorstep.
As usual, the Fórsa delegation will be departing Nerney’s Court, Dublin, at 12.30pm to join the trade union bloc at the IPSC march. You are welcome to come to head office beforehand to collect a Fórsa flag and enjoy some coffee before joining the trade union bloc or meet us outside Mandate’s office at 1pm directly.
At the demo we will be calling for immediate sanctions and for the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill.
This month’s march is of particular significance, as it also marks the 77th year of the ongoing Palestinian Nakba (‘catasrophe’ in Arabic), which began with the forcible depopulation of Palestine in 1948 and continues to this day with the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
In advance of the demo the IPSC criticised the Irish Government for not taking more action, stating “It won’t enact the Occupied Territories Bill, it won’t act to stop the Central Bank processing Israel’s genocide bonds, it won’t stop the use of Shannon Airport and Irish airspace for transiting weapons to Israel, it won’t stop dual-use exports to Israel. It won’t even ban the state investment fund — that invests our taxes — from investing in companies that profit from genocide.”
If you would like to become more involved with Fórsa’s Palestine demonstrations or would like to receive regular updates on the union’s activities in this area, contact campaigns@forsa.ie.
Watch our recap video of Fórsa's Educational Division Conference 2025.
Fórsa delegates gathered in a rain swept Galway for the 2025 Fórsa Education Division Conference on the 23rd and 24th of April.
Delegates representing the division’s branches gathered to set the agenda for the next two years.
A packed agenda featured debates, awards, and fringe events tackling gender-based violence and systemic challenges in education.
Motions passed on approving a ballot on industrial action in respect of the pension parity in schools campaign, outsourcing in the ETB sector, increasing provision of autism classes, calling for the Department of Education Circular on assault leave to be amended, the inclusion of non-teaching staff on boards of management, the SNA workforce development plan, and increasing administrative staffing in the technological university sector, amongst many other topics
Minister Helen McEntee pledged support for school staff and announced a long-awaited SNA redeployment scheme. Watch the highlights, hear from members, and see how union members are coming together to fight for an education system that works for all.
Take a look at what the Skills Academy has on offer for members this May.
Due to great interest from members, an additional session of the Branch treasurers training has been scheduled. Learn all about the union’s mentoring programme at our next Lunch & Learn, and for those who missed it, last month’s mortgage essentials session is now available to watch back online.
Branch Treasurers training – Thursday 22nd May – Nerney’s Court
Thursday 22nd May will be the last opportunity for branch treasurers and vice-treasurers to avail of this important training this side of the summer. Healthy finances are essential to the proper functioning of a branch. This training will guide treasurers through the ins and outs of the position, how to avoid the pitfalls, and will give treasurers a firm understanding of the aspects beyond keeping a balanced ledger.
In addition to essentials such as information on funding, capitation and how to manage the branch’s financial returns, there will also be the opportunity to network with other treasurers to support each other in the carrying out of their role.
While newly elected branch treasurers and vice-treasurers will be given preference in the event of oversubscription, this course is open to all branch treasurers. If you are a treasurer who is looking to hit the ground running or feel you could improve as a treasurer this course is ideal.
Live: Lunch & Learn – The Fórsa mentoring programme - Friday 30th May - Online
The Fórsa mentoring programme was launched a year ago at Biennial Conference. It was an ambitious initiative that sought to bring together experienced union activists and promising newcomers in the hopes of passing on knowledge and wisdom earned through years of union work.
This upcoming Lunch & Learn will bring together programme participants and tutors to take a look back on the year. Find out what went right, how participants benefitted, and plans for taking the programme into its second year.
This will be an unmissable session for anyone interested in knowing more about the benefits of mentoring and how you and your branch can participate in this year’s programme.
Watch back - Lunch & Learn 25th April - Mortgage essentials: first time buyer’s guides to mortgages
The Friday 25th April Lunch & Learn Mortgage essentials: first time buyer’s guides to mortgages is now available to watch on YouTube.
For those who were unfortunate enough to have missed it, in this session Mark Solon, Managing Director of Symmetry Financial Management, shared some of his in-depth knowledge of the mortgage application process.
There is no better expert for Fórsa members thinking of applying for a mortgage. From day one Symmetry Financial Management has specialised in helping public sector workers find mortgages suitable to their circumstances.
In this hour-long session Mark presented a step-by-step guide on how the mortgage process works, as well as sharing his detailed insight into what lenders are currently offering and the criteria they use to assess applications.
The recording is available on the Skills Academy’s YouTube here.
The Fórsa summer series returns this year, taking place on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th June in the Radisson Hotel, Athlone.
The Fórsa summer series returns this year. This annual event aims to boost the skillsets of Fórsa activists and those interested in further developing their campaigning skills.
The summer series delivers a comprehensive training programme for new and returning activists, and specifically provides Fórsa members an opportunity to expand their advocacy skills and networks.
There will be sessions on organising for power, lobbying, public speaking, digital skills, and more. You can look at the programme overview here.
This year’s summer series will be taking place on Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th June in the Radisson Hotel, Athlone. This is an in-person event only.
Our summer school is open to all Fórsa members, but branch campaigns officers are highly encouraged to apply as this programme will be of particular value to them and their work.
If your branch isn't part of our branch campaign officers network yet, you can send us the name and contact details of your branch campaigns officer by filling in this form here.
The deadline to register is Monday 12th May. It will not be possible to request release for attendance beyond this point.
While this event is open to all Fórsa members you should discuss your attendance with your branch before applying.
You can register for the Fórsa summer series here.
If you have any further questions at this time, please do not hesitate to contact us at summerseries@forsa.ie.
Fórsa members outdid themselves this year for the second ever Trade Union Week, the annual highlight of the Better in a Trade Union campaign. Over 70 events were held the length and breadth of the country.
Fórsa members outdid themselves this year for the second ever Trade Union Week, the annual highlight of the Better in a Trade Union campaign. Over 70 events were held the length and breadth of the country.
Better in a Trade Union is an all-island cross union campaign, launched in 2024, led by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU). It aims to build union membership across the country. Trade Union Week provides an opportunity to celebrate unions and their members, with events taking place from Monday 28th April to Friday 2nd May.
Last year during the first ever Trade Union Week Fórsa members held an array of fun and informative events, and this year was no different with members in every division holding events to create and recruit new members.
Events took place in hospitals, schools, offices, airports, libraries and further afield again. Workplaces from the State Labs, to the National Archives, the Oireachtas, the Courts Service and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office all took part, bringing members and prospective members together.
One branch event took place on the Saturday before the beginning of Trade Union Week. St Colmcille’s GAA club in Swords teamed up with Fórsa to produce new jerseys sponsored by the union.
Chris Crowley, a Fórsa member and union rep in Fórsa’s Dublin Garda Civilian branch, came up with the idea: “As Trade Union Week approached our branch decided to sponsor jerseys for the kids and ‘Mothers and Others’ groups at St Colmcille’s.
“I was active last year in the Better in a Trade Union campaign, and I was inspired by the success of the special jersey produced for Bohemians FC. We felt this was a lovely way to bring it into the community and to younger people,” he said.
Fórsa national secretary and ICTU vice president Katie Morgan said: “The current international uncertainty underlines the importance of union membership. We must protect collective bargaining and build union power; every new member increases our collective strength.”
Director of Campaigns in Fórsa Kevin Donoghue thanked members who organised events and recruitment stands, saying: “We know that people are most likely to join the union if they’re asked to by a colleague, so these visibility events are vital to our collective efforts to build our union.”
Gary Rutledge, from the Courts Service branch, co-hosted an event with the AHCPS. He said: "It was really good to chat with non-members in a more relaxed setting. A few said they liked the idea of joining a union but no one had spoken to them about it yet. In a big organisation like ours, we don’t always know when new people start, so this was a chance to connect with them.
It was a great opportunity to meet and work with our counterparts in the AHCPS who share the same union values as ourselves."
Following negotiations between the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and an ICTU led group of unions representing workers in the Community Employment sector, a new pay deal was agreed on Wednesday 30th April.
Following negotiations between the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and an ICTU led group of unions representing workers in the Community Employment sector, a new pay deal was agreed on Wednesday 30th April.
An interim pay deal, which was approved by members in a ballot late last year, included an agreement that unions and the department would re-enter talks at an early date this year.
This new agreement is a result of those talks. The pay increases on the table amount to 5.25% to be paid across 2025, with an initial 3.25% increase backdated to February, and a further 2% increase, which would be effective from the 1st of November.
The terms of the agreement apply to all CE Supervisor members, and members working at the Tús initiative, the Rural Social Scheme and the Job Initiative scheme
A ballot of members opened on Wednesday 7th May and will close at midday on Wednesday 21st May. Eligible members should have received a unique voting code (UVC) from Mi-Voice. If you have not received your code, please contact your branch.
Fórsa official Deirdre O’Connell welcomed the agreement and outlined that an additional issue has also been addressed.
She said: “This agreement will go further towards supporting CE supervisors who play a vital role in managing Community Employment schemes around the country. We have also been seeking resolution to an outstanding pay issue for assistant CE supervisors, who did not benefit from the full percentage increase from the previous agreement in 2024. This will now be remedied by DSP. Any member impacted by this should contact the branch for further detail.”
Following extensive engagement, a pay deal has been negotiated for workers in Premier Lotteries Ireland.
Following extensive engagement, a pay deal has been negotiated for workers in Premier Lotteries Ireland.
A ballot of members will now take place. An online ballot opened on Wednesday 7th May and will close on Thursday 22nd May. Eligible members should have received their unique voting code (UVC) by now.
The proposed pay deal will run for two years, from April 2025 to March 2027. The agreement proposes an average of 7% pay increases over the two-year period.
Branch chair Ronan Cooney said: “The negotiation went well, and after a lot of back and forth we managed to agree a two year deal which the branch are happy to recommend to you, the members, to vote on. We, as a branch, are endorsing what has been agreed with the company and recommending acceptance of this deal. The deal will be backdated to commence on 1st April as the previous deal expired on 31st March 2025.”
Fórsa official Deirdre O’Connell said: “This deal has been negotiated on your behalf by your branch reps, now it’s over to you to have your say on the terms of the proposed agreement. If you have any questions you should contact your branch.”
At a recent meeting of the Aviation Stakeholders Forum, the IAA announced that a stakeholder consultation process would take place as part of the development of a new ‘Statement of Strategy’ for the 2026-2028 period.
At a recent meeting of the Aviation Stakeholders Forum, the IAA announced that a stakeholder consultation process would take place as part of the development of a new ‘Statement of Strategy’ for the 2026-2028 period.
Fórsa has been engaging with aviation branches on the matter and will make a submission to the consultation outlining the union’s key priorities for the period ahead.
The Aviation Stakeholders Forum aims to foster the maintenance and improvement of aviation safety and to support the development of a positive aviation safety culture within the aviation community.
First established in September 2023, it was set up under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 2022. The forum is convened by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). It provides an opportunity for all stakeholders involved in civil aviation in Ireland to get together to discuss areas of mutual concern.
At the fourth Aviation Stakeholders Forum, which took place in March, the agenda covered regulatory developments at European and national level, developments in relation to air traffic control (ATC), personal licencing regulations, national enforcement activities and safety and substance testing.
On the IAA strategy consultation, Fórsa national secretary Katie Morgan said: “The division has been engaging with the aviation sub-committee of the divisional executive committee to develop Fórsa’s submission, and we encourage branches who are interested in making a submission to do so.
It is understood that further public consultation will commence by the end of quarter two of 2025, and we will be notifying branches of how they can participate in this process.”
The Government launched its ‘Guidelines for the Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service’ yesterday (Thursday). Fórsa national secretary Catherine Keogh welcomed the emphasis on prioritising public trust and people’s rights.
The Government launched its ‘Guidelines for the Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service’ yesterday (Thursday).
Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said the guidelines “compliment and inform strategies regarding the adoption of innovative technology and ways of working already underway in the public service” and seeks to set “a high standard for public service transformation and innovation, while prioritising public trust and people’s rights.”
The minister added that the guidelines have been developed “to actively empower public servants to use AI in the delivery of services, and that by firmly placing the human in the process “these guidelines aim to enhance public trust in how Government uses AI.”
Responding to the launch of the new guidelines, Fórsa national secretary Catherine Keogh agreed that AI offers potential to improve the provision of public services, and welcomed the emphasis on prioritising public trust and people’s rights: “Responsible AI management should absolutely prioritise public safety and trust.
"As the main public service union, Fórsa is also aware that there will be significant challenges to address when new, very powerful - and experimental - technology is integrated into our public services.
"We need to consider the experience of service users, for whom engagement with public services comes with a reasonable expectation of being able to talk to a real person.
"These challenges were raised in motions brought to our conference last year, reflecting members concerns. This includes AI’s difficulties with bias and discrimination, its potential use in worker surveillance and the continuing challenge of data privacy, and the importance of the ethical use of AI.
"Equally, it raises the question of who gets to share in the benefits of AI? As AI develops it will put various types of jobs at risk, including a variety of skilled jobs. As that happens, there needs to be a real worker dividend. For example, this opens up opportunities to talk about trialling a four-day week," she said.
Ahead of the first online session of the ICTU Stronger Together Project: Ethnic Minority/Migrant Worker Leadership Training we spoke to Fórsa’s Khalid El-Busaidy, who shared his experience as part of the first class to take the training.
Next week, the ICTU Stronger Together Project will host the first online session of their Ethnic Minority/Migrant Worker Leadership Training.
Project organisers decided to host the online sessions to facilitate workers who expressed interest but were unable to attend previous sessions held in Dublin.
Ahead of the online session we spoke to Fórsa’s Khalid El-Busaidy, Senior Membership Recruitment Officer, who shared his experience in undertaking the Leadership Training.
When the Stronger Together project began recruiting for the inaugural class of May/June 2024, Khalid decided he would take part. He saw the course description and thought “it would be interesting, something different” and that it was something he could use to develop his skills.
The training was an immensely positive experience for Khalid. He said, “I was glad I did it. I met with colleagues from other unions. It opened me up to so much out there that I wasn’t aware of. I heard directly from the participants about their everyday lives and about their communities.”
For Khalid, the team facilitating the training was core to its success. He spoke fondly of Dr. David Carroll, Dr. Lucy Michael, and Gordon Ogutu, who created a comfortable environment and made him feel like he could excel. It also gave him the space to explore talents he had not realised he had.
One such talent was on full display at the ICTU’s Stronger Together: Anti-racist workplaces & trade unions conference, where Khalid spoke as part of the migrant worker’s panel. Using his talent as a storyteller and raconteur, Khalid took the themes being discussed and brought them to life with his own lived experience, enthralling all present in the process.
Khalid believes “all of us are equipped with some talent we didn’t know about” and for him the best way to uncover these talents is to “get out meet people and do something new.” For Khalid the Leadership Training was the beginning of doing just that, and it gave him the confidence to go further.
He said, “When I concluded that course, it gave me skills, confidence and a new sense of what I am capable of.”
Since completing the Leadership Training Khalid has found further enjoyment in education. He has taken on the Trade Union Congress: Organising Diploma course and reads for learning in his spare time. Khalid has excelled. He received word he has passed the course with flying colours just prior to publication and is already thinking about his next challenge.
Khalid said: “If you asked me years ago I would have said I don’t have the time for that. It was the Leadership Training that gave me the push to do the organising course. When I started, I wasn’t nervous because I already knew what to expect.”
“The ICTU Ethnic Minority and Migrant Worker Leadership Training, really was the key for me. It opened everything up.” he concluded.
Encouraging anyone thinking about doing the training he said: “Definitely go for it, take the step. It is a great opportunity to grow personally and professionally.”
Most of all Khalid wanted to stress the way the training made him feel in the hope others can experience it too, saying “you meet so many people, they’re so diverse, and everyone there is just like me. It makes you feel like you’re not alone.”
ICTU Stronger Together Project: Online Ethnic Minority/Migrant Worker Leadership Training will take place on Mondays 12th and 19th May, from 6.30pm - 8.00pm.
Sessions will be facilitated by ICTU and Dr Lucy Michael.
Attendance is free of charge and open to all migrant workers and those of a minority ethnic background.
Fórsa encourages all members who qualify for the training to take part if they can.
To register for the course, please send an email, with your name, trade union affiliation and contact details to antiracism@ictu.ie.
Only three days left to get your submission into the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's public consultation on Ireland's action plan to promote collective bargaining.
Only three days left to get your submission into the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's public consultation on Ireland's action plan to promote collective bargaining.
This consultation is an extremely important opportunity to shape the future of our workplaces, our rights, and our collective strength. It is open now, and will close on Monday 12th May.
Collective bargaining is the process by which working people come together and negotiate with employers, through their trade unions, to determine fair conditions of employment.
The right to collectively bargain is essential to ensuring that working people have the capacity to improve their living standards, provide for their families and build a strong foundation for our economy.
At present, Ireland’s collective bargaining coverage only amounts to around one-third of all employment.
Under Article 4 of the EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive, member states with less than 80% collective bargaining coverage are mandated to provide a framework of enabling conditions for collective bargaining and establish an action plan to progressively increase the collective bargaining coverage rate. The action plan should be established after consulting the social partners or by agreement with them.
Fórsa has produced a sample document to help guide you in filling out the public consultation form, with a run through of each question in the consultation along with guidelines on possible responses. You can view it here.
Last week Fórsa also held an online webinar to provide information about the public consultation and inspire attendees to make their own contributions through the online consultation survey.
The lunchtime session featured contributions from Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) general secretary Owen Reidy and Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan. The webinar covered recommendations for the submission from both ICTU and Fórsa, and also outlined how you can and should use stories from your workplace to submit your own thoughts on this consultation.
Fórsa’s director of campaigns, Kevin Donoghue, encouraged every trade union member to contribute to this important consultation and draw on their experiences to inform Ireland's action plan.
He said: “It is important that we as trade unionists make a significant contribution to the number of submissions received in the consultation. The more members who speak up, the louder our collective voice. When we act together, we win together. This consultation is an opportunity to strengthen collective bargaining rights and encourage greater levels of trade union coverage. Raise your voice and encourage your colleagues and coworkers to raise theirs too.”
If you have questions about Fórsa's submission to the consultation or need help with your own, you can get in touch with us at campaigns@forsa.ie.
In-work poverty and an increase in the national minimum wage to bring it up to a living wage were the main calls highlighted in Fórsa’s recent submission to the Low Pay Commission.
In-work poverty and an increase in the national minimum wage to bring it up to a living wage were the main calls highlighted in Fórsa’s recent submission to the Low Pay Commission.
In the submission, Fórsa called for an increase in the existing national minimum wage that would effectively replace the minimum wage with a real living wage, set at 60% of the median hourly wage, by 1st January 2026. To achieve this, an increase of €1 is required.
This would be in line with the previous government’s commitments and recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission.
In the submission, Fórsa stressed that it was vital that the national minimum wage is seen and understood as a wage floor and absolute minimum rather than a ceiling. The union said it must not replace or restrict access to collective bargaining agreements or employment regulation orders which may secure higher wage rates in certain employments.
The Central Statistics Office Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2024 shows that poverty still exists for those in employment, with most recent in-work poverty figures at 5.4% This data re-emphasises the stark reality that minimum thresholds set below 60% of median wage place workers at high risk of in-work poverty.
In a wealthy country like Ireland, with a tight labour market, a minimum threshold of at least 60% should be considered reasonably practicable.
Fórsa national secretary and ICTU vice-president, Katie Morgan, said: “While employment should always provide people with the means for a decent quality of life, it does not automatically guarantee a quality standard of living or that a person will no longer experience poverty. The small increases in pay rates recommended for those who need them most, would deliver meaningful improvements in quality of life and living standards. This would also take an important step in advancing fairness and equality across our labour market.”
Fórsa also called for the abolition of sub-minimum rates of pay for workers under the age of twenty in the recent submission.
The National Minimum Wage Act explicitly discriminates against workers based on their age. It allows employers to pay those under 18 at 70% percent of the national minimum wage, those aged 18 at 80% and those aged 19 at 90% percent.
In 2023, the Council of Europe also concluded that Ireland was in breach of the revised European Social Charter due to its sub-minimum rate of pay for young workers and failing to ensure a decent standard of living for these workers.
While the majority of Fórsa’s membership is covered by collective bargaining agreements with their employers, it is essential that statutory minimum wage thresholds are set at a level that ensures that workers not covered by collective agreements can earn a fair and adequate wage that ensures a decent quality of living.
This would greatly benefit workers earning the minimum wage, largely concentrated in our retail, accommodation, food, or wholesale sectors, where lower wages are more predominant.
The submission to the Low Pay Commission was made in the context of the government’s decision to delay key measures already agreed that would make life better for working people. These include the delay of pension auto enrolment and a delay to the implementation of a national living wage for three years.
ICTU’s general secretary Owen Reidy said the delays were “shameful and unacceptable” and revealed that government policy seems to favour employers over low-paid workers, and called for supports for workers who may face short-time working breaks or layoffs due to anticipated economic challenges.
Fórsa’s policy officer, Aisling Cusack, said: “Inflation is slowing down, and the Government has indicated that it does not intend to continue cost-of-living supports, such as energy credits, or introduce new cost-of-living measures in the next budget for 2026 through the 2025 Finance Bill. The planned cessation of these supports places a greater urgency on the need to increase wages for those earning the minimum wage so that they can afford basic necessities and a decent standard of living without temporary cost-of-living supports.”
The national minimum wage is currently set at €13.50 per hour, effective from 1 January 2025. Fórsa is recommending an increase of €1 per hour which would bring the statutory minimum hourly rate of pay to a living wage of €14.50.
This change would allow our lowest paid workers to meet their basic needs and give them a better chance of avoiding in-work poverty.
