Fórsa members at Barnardos have served three weeks’ notice of industrial action today (Wednesday 4th June). Fórsa members at Barnardos will engage in a work-to-rule action from Wednesday 25th June. The dispute centres on Barnardos’ failure to fully implement the terms of a 2023 WRC-brokered pay agreement, and its refusal to engage with the union on the matter.
Barnardos, a State-part-funded charity providing services to vulnerable children and families, is covered by the October 2023 WRC settlement, which applies to employments in the health-funded community and voluntary sector (sections 39, 56, and 10). The agreement played a key role in averting sector-wide strike action at the time.
Fórsa official Louise O’Hara said Barnardos management claimed the funding it received – to implement the 2023 pay deal – was instead used to offset the cost of a 2022 pay uplift: “There is no provision in the 2023 agreement for employers to divert funding as reimbursement for earlier pay decisions. State funding bodies have confirmed to Fórsa that the funding is not for reimbursement,” she said.
Of the 8% payable under the 2023 agreement, only 4% has been paid. “The employer has effectively withheld the balance of State funding intended to implement the agreement, yet now claims to have fulfilled its obligations in full.
“Barnardos has refused to engage with the union, and has declined a WRC invitation to attend conciliation,” she added.
A subsequent WRC agreement, established in March and ratified by trade unions, contains a clear provision that any funding provided under the deal must be used exclusively to meet the agreed pay increases.
A Fórsa survey of Barnardos staff showed that more than 60% are considering leaving the organisation if the terms of the agreement are not fully honoured. The ballot for industrial action, completed on 7th March, was backed by more than 88% of members on a ballot turnout of 84.8%. Fórsa has about 100 members working at Barnardos.
“Audited accounts for 2023 show that Barnardos held more than €15 million in reserves, the majority of which was unrestricted funding,” Louise said. “Barnardos is a charitable organisation whose actions have imposed unnecessary financial hardship on its staff. The terms of the WRC agreement are clear. They must be honoured in full,” she said.
In the letter of notice issued today (Wednesday), Fórsa national secretary Ashley Connolly said the union remains available to engage with Barnardos under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to avert the planned industrial action. The union said any escalation of the industrial action would be preceded by seven days’ notice.
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