Colleagues,
Fórsa and Siptu members working in Local Employment Services are jointly campaigning to highlight their opposition to Government plans to privatise essential community services.
Please see the following summary of actions from the last week, and the planned next steps, in our campaign to halt the dismantlement of Local Employment Services and Jobs Clubs.
Political Lobbying
Fórsa and Siptu representatives are continuing a series of political engagements with high profile public representatives.
Two meetings with representatives from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party have already been held. The Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Social Protection, Dara Calleary, has agreed to meet with Taoiseach Michael Martin, to relay our demands. This engagement across the political spectrum has been important.
There is significant support amongst the political class for the retention of Local Employment Services and Jobs Clubs in their present form This consensus was echoed across the political spectrum by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection in its pre-budget statement, where members stated that “Local Employment Services and Jobs Clubs should be maintained in their current model.” Read more on that HERE.
Protest
A well attended socially distant rally was held outside Minister Humphrey’s Office in Monaghan town last Friday (23rd July).
We want to thank all those who attended. It was a successful event and attracted considerable media coverage. The protest continues to build pressure on the Minister to halt the tendering process.
Read the article in the Irish Times.
Listen to the coverage on Northern Sound
Next Steps
We are now entering a critical phase of the campaign. Meetings with your branch executive officers are being held, with discussions around ramping up the next critical phase of this campaign taking place. Following on from this, information will be sent to members.
Please make sure that we have your most recent contact details so that we can ensure that up-to-the-minute, important information can be delivered directly to you. You can update your contact details HERE.
Yes We Can
This is a fight which can be won, but victory will only be secured by us all sticking together and working in solidarity.
I want to personally thank you all for the huge efforts you have made in this campaign to date, and ask you to stick with Fórsa in the fight that lies ahead.
In solidarity,
Lynn Coffey
Assistant General Secretary
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