Fórsa has sought an urgent engagement with the education department over concerns that special needs assistants (SNAs) and school secretaries with underlying health conditions could be at unnecessary high risk once schools start to reopen later this week.

The union is concerned that standard occupational health advice, and new guidance issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) today (Monday), give insufficient protections against Covid-19 to classroom-based staff with underlying health problems including lung and respiratory conditions, heart disease, and some cancers.

The union’s head of education, Andy Pike, said these workers have been told they must work in classrooms without any social distancing, despite clear evidence that they are at high risk if they contract Covid-19.

“Staff are concerned that the occupational health advice doesn’t take account of individual health status and seems to allow people at high risk to work in situations without social distancing even if they have multiple underlying health conditions. We are seeking an alternative approach that is responsive to advice from GPs, rather than a blanket uniform approach which is insensitive to real health risks and fears,” he said.

Fórsa has today written to education minister Norma Foley to say that staff in the schools sector are most at risk, but are getting the least protection. The union has asked the minister to reconsider the policy to “afford a genuine clinical assessment to staff that takes account of their health status in accordance with published HSE advice.”

“SNAs can’t practise social distancing and do their job because they work so closely with the students they give personal care to. As things stand, this means they will be exposed to the highest level of risk. Classroom staff with underlying health conditions need more protection than those working in other settings,” said Mr Pike.

 Published: 19 August 2020

• Pensions

Date Released: 20 August 2020

SIPTU members have given a cautious welcome to the decision of the Government to provide funding to ensure that the cultural sites, King John’s Castle in Limerick City and Bunratty Castle in County Clare remain open until the end of 2020.

SIPTU Organiser, Rachel Keane, said: “Shannon Heritage which operates the sites had intended closing both Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and King John’s Castle at the end of August. It has now been confirmed that the Shannon Group, which operates Shannon Heritage, will receive €2.6 million in Government funding to keep both sites open until the end of 2020.  

“SIPTU representatives will attempt to ensure that this funding is used primarily to pay the wages of the people working on the sites. Our members also intend to feed into a review announced by the Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport, Eamon Ryan TD, into the future of the Shannon Group.”

SIPTU Shop Steward, Chris Rowley said: “We would like to acknowledge assistance of many elected representatives from across the political spectrum who campaigned alongside us to maintain the operation of these key cultural sites. This campaign has had a success, but we will need to continue it to ensure this government extends its support for these sites beyond 2020.

“At this time, we are also mindful of our work colleagues who did not secure any seasonal work this year and have no certainty of work next year.”

SIPTU Organiser, Sharron Ryan, said: “SIPTU members welcome the temporary reprieve for these iconic sites which follows a successful community campaign which received widespread support. However, the operation of the sites will also need to be protected into 2021.

“We thank everyone who phoned or emailed their TD, who marched with us or who visited the sites to show practical support, we thank you and ask you to continue to support our campaign into 2021.”

COMMENTARY ON THE LABOUR CLUSTER OF THE OMNIBUS BILL ON JOB CREATION (RUU CIPTA KERJA)

17 August 2020, Index number: ASA 21/2879/2020

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SIPTU awaits full response from Sisters Of Charity on redundancy payments for workers

Date Released: 13 August 2020

SIPTU representatives have said they have received an initial response from the Sisters Of Charity to their call for discussions on the issues arising for employees from the decision to place into liquidation the Caritas Convalescent Centre, St. Mary’s Centre Telford and St. Monica’s Nursing Home in Dublin.

SIPTU Organiser, Brian Condra, said: “The Sisters have acknowledged the correspondence sent by the unions which represent workers at this institutions. We further note that they have committed to a full response to our request to meet for discussions on an enhanced redundancy package for these employees and other issues. We now fully expect the Order to engage with the workers’ unions in relation to its obligations to staff at the three centres.”

He added: “The Sisters must engage with us to resolve in a fair and just manner all the issues highlighted by these staff who have shown not just a great commitment but incredible loyalty throughout their working careers. Until a just agreement is achieved, these SIPTU members will continue to campaign for a just redundancy settlement.”

The Labour Court has ruled that 64 staff at the Sister Caritas Convalescent Centre on Merrion Road, Dublin 4, should be given public sector-scale redundancy payments. The Court has previously ruled that staff employed by Section 39 bodies, run independently, but funded by the State and including the three institutions, should receive redundancy payments equivalent to those paid to public servants.

Over a third (36%) of Irish employees stated that their mental health & wellbeing has suffered as result of working longer hours during Covid-19 and 47% of managers believe their employees may be at risk of burnout, following a change in work pattern or behaviour bought on by Covid-19.

The findings come from a new report published this week by global recruiter Robert Walters: Burning the Candle: Strategies to Combat Workplace Burnout. The survey was conducted in July (a good few months into lockdown/working-from-home). It was a global survey taking place across 31 countries with 1,000 Irish professionals taking part and 250 Irish companies.

Those working remotely recorded a 35% increase in productivity, and an overwhelming 87% of these respondents have felt the pressure to keep productivity levels consistently high to prove the case for working from home post-Covid.

Whilst two thirds of Irish professionals (61%) believe that wellness policies are important, just a third of companies offer what is required by law. Since remote working began, 21% of Irish professionals claim that the pressure to deliver results has caused a negative impact on their mental health or wellbeing.

Over a quarter of Irish professionals (26%) stated that more autonomy whilst remote working was a key factor in their increased productivity. When asked about expectations for the future of work, 29% stated that they would like more autonomy and trust given by the management team.

Commenting on the research, Director at Robert Walters Ireland, Suzanne Feeney said, “Increasingly we were seeing offices be re-designed ergonomically, work health insurances enhanced to provide mental health support, and training provided to managers to help understand and deal with employees suffering from poor mental health. Many of these policies were geared around personal mental health issues – such as depression and anxiety – which have an impact or were exasperated by work.”

She added, “Burnout is an entirely different and recently recognised condition which, unlike other mental health issues, can be directly linked to work. As a result, employers have a crucial and central role to play in order to ensure their staff do not reach the point of burnout.”

Source: www.businessworld.ie

Over 3,000 local authority staff working in water services have raised fears about their jobs and the continued public ownership of Ireland’s water services after senior civil servants were reported to have advised incoming local government minister Darragh O’Brien to transfer local council water operations to Irish Water.

This follows media reports of the details of a civil service briefing for the new minister, which warned that current arrangements increased the “risk” of service failure. Fórsa, the union that represents most of the staff, has rejected this assertion and says workers fear the real motive is to prepare water services for future privatisation.

The union had earlier expressed disappointment at the incoming coalition’s failure to set a date for a referendum to secure public ownership of water services in the Programme for Government.

At a recent meeting with Fórsa and other unions in the sector, Minister O’Brien gave assurances that he would engage with them on the future of Irish water services. Fórsa followed up with a letter today (Tuesday), in which the country’s largest public service union reminded the minister that the issue was currently being dealt with in a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) process.

The WRC process was prompted by union fears over the previous administration’s proposal to move local authority water services into a single water utility by 2021. Fórsa has insisted on “simultaneous movement” on four strands in the talks:

• The future sustainability and revitalisation of local authority services
• A constitutional referendum on public ownership of water services
• The structure and governance of the proposed single water utility, and
• Employment and industrial relations issues that arise from the proposal

In today’s letter to Minister O’Brien, Fórsa’s local government chief Peter Nolan said staff were fearful for their jobs and future the quality and continuity of safe water services – especially if privatisation remains a possibility.

“Over 3,000 local authority workers continue to provide waste and water services under very difficult conditions, dealing with a network that has been under-resourced for decades. It would be most unfortunate if civil servants within your department, with or without your agreement, had insinuated that the current service level agreement would lead to ‘water service failure.’ Such briefings are not based in reality and do nothing to instil confidence among our members about their future,” he said.

Mr Nolan said a referendum was necessary to assure workers and communities that water services would not be sold off. He said water privatisation in other counties had led to worse services at higher cost to citizens and taxpayers. “The privatisation of water has been successfully reversed in a host of European cities and regions because privatised services only mean higher costs and a failure to deliver promised improvement,” he said.

TULF are actively supporting the Debenhams workers in their struggle for justice. What has happened the Debenhams workers is atrocious. Some workers have given decades of service to the company and then when it suits the company just abandons them. But what is inspirational is the fact the workers are trying to change legislation to protect all other workers from this terrible predicament.” On Wednesday 22nd July the workers and their supporters marched to the convention centre Dublin where the Dáil was debating a motion in support of their plight.

Picture of some of the workers before they set off to the Dáil

TULF are also actively campaigning to abolish the 1990 Industrial Relation Act, For information on the implications of this act and its abuses on workers right seen the link below