Latest news with #Fórsa
Irish Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Government should consider allowing unions to collect subs from non-members who benefit from pay deals, consultation told
The country's largest public service trade union has urged the Government to consider a Canadian system which would require workers who benefit from salary deals or other collective agreements to pay dues or subscriptions even if they are not members. Fórsa has told a Government-established consultation process that 'free-riding' is a growing problem for trade unions. At present just over a quarter of all workers in Ireland are members of trade unions, a substantial portion of them in the public sector, who benefit from union-negotiated deals. But in a significant number of cases employees who are not union members benefit equally from pay increases or other negotiations carried out by unions on behalf of their members in the same company or organisation. READ MORE Research by John Geary and Maria Belizon at UCD has suggested more than a third of workers in unionised workplaces could be categorised as 'free-riders', with the figure running to more than half in unionised private sector places of employment. In a submission to a public consultation process on the formulation of an action plan due to be drawn up later this year by Government to promote greater collective bargaining coverage, Fórsa said there was a strong relationship between trade union membership and union-negotiated collective agreements. It argued 'free-riding' was a growing problem for trade unions. This, it said, was primarily because of the associated costs of union organising and the financial loss incurred from non-members benefiting from improved pay and conditions without contributing to the collective effort through membership subscription fees or participating in collective industrial action. 'To help address the issue of 'free-riders' and declining density, and to build and strengthen the capacity of trade unions through incentivising membership, Fórsa recommends the Government consider proposals to allow unions to collect subscription fees or union dues from all employees, including members and non-members, similar to the Rand Formula which exists in Canada.' As part of its submission on the action plan, which is required of the Government under the terms of Adequate Minimum Wages Directive , the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) made 35 recommendations. Congress, which represents more than 40 affiliated trade unions, has been involved in a sustained campaign to influence the way Government implements the directive and has been critical of what it sees as a lack of action taken so far. In its submission, it calls for a range of measures including access to private sector workplaces for unions, protections where industrial action is taken and making a willingness to engage with unions a requirement for access to State supports. Ictu also argues that the Government should consider allowing State-subsidised but voluntary unemployment insurance which the unions would administer. They point to similar schemes already operating in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, where they have helped to sustain significantly higher level of union membership. Under the system, the schemes provide for additional payments which complement existing social protection measures for union members who lose their jobs. Ictu says introducing such a system in Ireland would be 'a major undertaking' but wants to see its viability examined. It also suggests a trial of default union membership at a semistate enterprise or other organisation receiving substantial public funding. Among the proposals from trade union Unite, meanwhile, is for the universal right to union recognition to be enshrined in a workers' rights act, with employers that contravened its terms prohibited from tendering for any public contracts.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Times
Gardaí dealt with more disruptive passengers at Dublin Airport so far this year than in all of 2024
Gardaí have dealt with more incidents involving disruptive passengers at Dublin Airport so far this year than in all of 2024, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has said. The incidents reported include unruly passengers fighting among themselves; obstructing, abusing or assaulting staff; or refusing to obey safety instructions. Alcohol is said to be a factor in many of the cases, while staff say drug taking is increasingly a feature. The latest IAA-published Garda statistics, released as part of an aviation industry campaign aimed at addressing disruptive behaviour, show gardaí dealt with 30 such incidents in the opening months of 2025. This is an 80 per cent increase on the number of reports across all of last year, the IAA said. READ MORE Ryanair says there is an average of three serious incidents for every thousand flights it operates. In January it filed a civil legal action seeking €15,000 in damages against a passenger who it said caused a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote to be diverted to Porto in April of last year. It is a sign of the airline's 'zero tolerance' approach to a growing problem, its head of communications Jade Kirwan said on Thursday. Fórsa, the union that represents the majority of cabin crew and pilots at the two main Irish airlines, said the scale of the increase is all the more remarkable because it comes before the summer season, when most of these incidents occur. 'It picks up as the number of flights increases and people are looking to let their hair down while travelling,' said Fórsa national secretary Katie Morgan. 'We are being told of instances where drugs are being taken on-board, people are doing lines of cocaine or drinking the duty-free they have just bought in the airport,' she said. She said there have been instances of cabin crew being abused, pushed or spat on for asking people to sit down and behave themselves. 'Sometimes it can be two people fighting with each other but when a staff member goes to intervene it all turns on them,' she said. The vast majority of passengers behave 'properly and respectfully' and are victims of the incidents too, she said. The fact that staff are highly trained to deal with such incidents means the Garda statistics fail to accurately reflect the scale of the issue of passenger disruptions. 'When the problem persists, though, it's very serious, the crew have to contain it because it's not like they can just open the door and throw the people out,' she said.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Disruptive air passengers warned of zero tolerance as almost 500,000 to pass through Dublin Airport this weekend
It comes as there has been a continued rise in industry reports of unruly behaviour to the Irish Aviation Authority, although the majority of passengers travel responsibly. This trend has seen year-on-year increases as airlines have encouraged crews to increase the reporting of unruly behaviour. More than 30 incidents have already been reported to Dublin Airport Garda station so far this year, which represents an almost 80pc increase compared to the entirety of 2024. The three most common incidents this year have been offensive behaviour onboard aircraft, obstructing or assaulting an authorised officer and being intoxicated onboard an aircraft. Last year also saw a 50pc increase in incidents of disruptive passenger behaviour reported to gardaí at Dublin Airport, compared to 2023. The aviation industry has renewed its shared commitment to tackle disruptive passenger behaviour through the ongoing #NotOnMyFlight campaign. The initiative, which was launched last year, is receiving growing support from aviation and public sector partners. It aims to ensure passengers are aware of the serious consequences of unruly behaviour, as well as supporting airport and airline staff through training and policy, or facilitating enforcement, like bans and prosecutions, where necessary. Since last year, the campaign has expanded to include Ireland's largest aviation union, Fórsa, and the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA), both of whom have formally signed the industry's joint declaration on unruly passenger behaviour. Jim Gavin, Chief Operations Officer of the Irish Aviation Authority, said: 'The #NotOnMyFlight campaign continues to reflect our strong commitment to supporting frontline airport staff, flight and cabin crew, and to safeguarding passengers by making it clear that unruly passenger behaviour will not be tolerated. "As we head into one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, we're reminding all passengers travelling through Irish airports that respectful behaviour is not just expected - it's essential to ensuring a safe and positive flying experience for everyone,' he added. Paul Cleary, Assistant Commissioner in the Dublin Metropolitan Region of An Garda Síochána, said there is 'no excuse for anti-social or disruptive behaviour'. 'Incidents of unruly conduct in airports and on planes can have serious consequences for both passengers and staff. It can be a frightening experience that endangers passengers and crew, while it can also mean delayed flights and missed connections,' he said. 'Over the past year, we have been working with our aviation partners under a joint declaration to address disruptive and dangerous behaviour, and we remain very committed to that. "While the majority of people travel respectfully, An Garda Síochána is prepared to act where necessary to ensure a safe and secure environment for all who travel through our airports,' he added. Fórsa's National Secretary, Katie Morgan, said that 'our members in airlines and airports are often the first responders to unruly passenger behaviour'. "As a trade union, the potential risk of unruly passenger behaviour to the health and safety of our members is a crucial matter of concern,' she said. 'We've seen first-hand the effect that some unruly passenger behaviour has had on our members. "Aviation workers have a right to a safe working environment and to be treated with dignity and respect. "They prioritise the travelling public's safety, and this campaign helps prioritise their safety,' she added. It comes as almost half a million passengers are expected to pass through Dublin Airport this June bank holiday weekend. The airport is expecting more than 115,000 passengers every day between Friday and Monday, with a total of 480,000 set to pass through both terminals. This four-day period will see close to 250,000 passengers departing from Dublin Airport, with around 230,000 passengers arriving, including thousands of tourists from across the world. The busiest day over the weekend will be tomorrow, Friday, May 30, when almost 124,000 passengers are expected to travel through the airport. Therefore, passengers are advised to arrive at their terminal two hours in advance of a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul flight. Dublin Airport spokesperson, Graeme McQueen, said this June bank holiday is set to break some records. "The peak tourism season is here and demand to travel this summer is really high, with this set to be the busiest June bank holiday ever at Dublin Airport,' he said. 'Indeed, the numbers travelling this weekend - and over the summer - would be even higher if it weren't for the passenger cap on Dublin Airport which continues to put off airlines from bringing new and additional routes to Ireland, denying the Irish hospitality sector of important tourism revenue,' he added.
Irish Examiner
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Union ballots school secretaries on strike action over exclusion from pension scheme
More than 2,300 secretaries in Irish primary and secondary schools may go on indefinite strike over a pensions' dispute, a trade union has warned. Fórsa said a ballot of its members is now under way as part of an ongoing campaign to secure access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme for school secretaries across the country. While the union was successful following a long-running dispute with the Department of Education in bringing an end to a two-tier pay system for school secretaries, this agreement did not include access to the public service pension scheme. The ballot for indefinite strike action was said to reflect the level of frustration members feel about being excluded from the pension scheme, despite the regularisation of other arrangements two years ago. Andy Pike, Fórsa's head of education, said the 2023 agreement successfully standardised pay and conditions to end years of disparity in pay, contracts and job security but left a 'significant gap in the effort to achieve full equality'. 'Fórsa has consistently argued that pension justice is an essential and inseparable part of the process of regularising school secretaries into Department of Education employment. Like every other grade overseen by the department, they must now be afforded the same pension entitlements as other public service workers.' Mr Pike said that school secretaries are highly skilled, dedicated workers who play a central role in the daily operations of schools right around the country. He said to exclude them from key pension entitlements available to others 'undermines the progress already made'. He urged the departments of education and public expenditure to re-engage with the union meaningfully on the matter. 'A fair and equitable resolution must be reached. School secretaries deserve to be treated in the same way as other public service workers under the department's remit,' Mr Pike added. The ballot is set to conclude on June 11 after which indefinite strike action may follow. Speaking earlier this month, education minister Helen McEntee indicated that discussions were ongoing regarding this pension ask from unions. 'That is engagement that will have to happen as part of an overall engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform,' she said. 'They are an integral part of our schools and it is really important that we support them in every way we can.' The Department of Education was contacted for comment. Read More Kevin Callinan: Working from home is a real political issue
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
More than 2,300 school secretaries begin ballot on strike action
A spokesperson at Fórsa, which represents school secretaries in primary and secondary schools, said the ballot began today. It is part of a campaign to enable school secretaries to become member of a public service pension scheme. Union officials said they are excluded from the pension scheme despite joining the Department of Education's centralised payroll in 2023. Andy Pike, Fórsa's head of education, said a union agreement with the department in 2023 successfully standardised pay and conditions for school secretaries, ending years of disparity in pay, contracts, and job security. 'It was a landmark agreement, marking a major step forward in recognising the critical role of school secretaries in our education system,' he said. 'However, the agreement did not include pension provision under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, and this has left a significant gap in the effort to achieve full equality.' He said pension justice is an inseparable part of the process of regularising school secretaries into Department of Education employment. Mr Pike said they must be afforded the same pension entitlements as other public service workers. 'School secretaries are highly skilled and dedicated professionals,' he said. He said they play a central role in the daily operations of every school and provide crucial leadership in every school community. ADVERTISEMENT 'That school secretaries remain excluded from the public service pension scheme undermines the progress already made,' he said. He said the ballot reflects members' determination to see the process through to its conclusion. Mr Pike said Fórsa is urging the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to re-engage meaningfully on the matter. 'A fair and equitable resolution must be reached,' he said. 'School secretaries deserve to be treated in the same way as other public service workers under the department's remit.' The ballot will end on Tuesday, June 11.
