Civil servants lost a claim to be entitled to similar flexi-leave arrangements as longer-serving colleagues. In a submission to the Civil Service Arbitration Board, the AHCSP union argued that "the ability to accrue flexi leave helped to achieve a better work-life balance and claimed the barrier on assistant principals accessing flexi leave had also stopped some civil servants from seeking promotion, particularly female staff."

General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O'Grady has said, "We urgently need to reset the balance of power in our economy and give people more of a say about what happens to them at work." A new report has found there are millions of people in the UK in insecure work and in order to combat this - amongst other problems - the TUC is calling for a £10-an-hour minimum wage and a ban on zero-hours contracts.

School secretaries will rally this Saturday at three locations around the country. Speaking to the Donegal Democrat, Fórsa activist and school secretary Kathleen O'Doherty said members are "attempting to change a two-tier pay system that leaves most staff on the statutory minimum wage."

Ryanair pilots in the UK are set to stage further strikes later this month in a dispute over pay and their terms and conditions. Balpa members will mount pickets during a 48-hour work stoppage on September 18-19, followed by 24-hour strikes on September 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29.

In other transport-related news, a free public bus system in the French city of Dunkirk has been a very successful initiative and revitalised the city centre, all the while helping the environment too.

There has been a 365% increase in child homelessness in five years according to Focus Ireland's annual report which was released today. The organisation has launched a new campaign to highlight this issue which includes a video that you can watch here.

And finally, today's Zen is a number from the musical Kinky Boots (skip forward a minute in the video to the performance). I had the pleasure of seeing it in the Bórd Gais theatre last week on the Irish leg of its tour. The story, which is inspired by true events, follows a businessman who revitalises his father's failing shoe-making company by producing boots for drag queens. There's a lovely theme of collaboration and collective action in times of need which makes for very uplifting viewing - I'd recommend seeing it if you ever get the chance.