The Government must immediately commit to refund the additional childcare costs that essential health workers have incurred since schools and crèches closed on 12^th March, according to Fórsa.

Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, has said adequate staffing will be needed to make a success of the HSE’s proposed model of ongoing coronavirus testing and contact tracing.

HSE HIPE coders are to be paid at grade V level on foot of an agreement won by Fórsa. They were previously on the grade IV scale.

Fórsa has published new guidance for workers who have been working remotely, but may be returning to their workplaces over the coming weeks. 

A member of Fórsa’s Boards and Voluntary Agencies branch has led an initiative that’s providing weekly food parcels to 21 extra families during the Covid-19 crisis. Crosscare youth worker and union activist John O’Hara saw a marked increase in the demand for support since the onset of the virus, and sought donations from Fórsa branches to fund additional aid for families.

Residential social care workers have refused to cooperate with new educational arrangements at the Oberstown detention centre after qualified teaching staff were withdrawn from classrooms on foot of the coronavirus crisis.

Well over 1.2 million workers are now dependent on State income supports because of the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis.

Fórsa’s first biennial report was published this week. The report sets out the new union’s activities and achievements over the last two years.