FSU pre budget proposals calls for a budget that delivers for workers and their families

FSU call for an extension of maternity pay to 52 weeks and an increase in statutory redundancy payment in pre-budget submission

The Financial Services Union (FSU) have today launched their pre-budget proposals calling on the Government to use the opportunity and the available resources to deliver a targeted budget package aimed at supporting workers and their families.

The FSU pre-budget proposals include a focus on managing the change that AI may bring to the workplace including funding for a targeted AI training program for Financial Services and the establishment of an AI Stakeholders Forum.

Other items include :

• Extend paid maternity leave to 52 weeks.
• Increase the statutory redundancy payment to €1,000 a week.
• Tax Credit for union subscriptions.
• Establish a Paternity Leave Working Group.
• Set up a collective bargaining support fund.
• Introduce a system similar to banded hours under the Employment Act 2018, granting entitlement to remote work if an employee has worked remotely for a sustained period.
• Publicly funded DEXA (Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry) screening programme, for post- menopausal women.
• During the statutory 30-day consultation period Trade union representation and attendance at meetings, if requested by Employee Reps, must be mandatory for Employers to facilitate

Commenting at the launch of the FSU pre budget proposals John O’Connell, General Secretary of the FSU said:

“Budget 2027 is an opportunity for both Government Party’s to deliver a package of measures that will address the serous inequalities that have arisen between the supports offered to business and the supports offered to workers.

Too many budgets have concentrated solely on tax breaks and incentives for business while ignoring the challenges that ordinary workers and their families are experiencing.

AI and remote working need to work for employees not just businesses. We need an AI stakeholder forum where change can be managed in a productive and transparent way and where workers can have a real input.

On remote working Government should Introduce a system under the Employment Act 2018, granting entitlement to remote work if an employee has worked remotely for a sustained period.

Government should support women thought an extension to 52 paid weeks for maternity pay, a  publicly funded DEXA (Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry) screening programme, for post- menopausal women and examine a paternity leave group to examine the issues around decent paternity pay.

Government can rebalance the influence of employees in the workplace by creating a collective bargaining support fund, introducing a tax credit for union membership, increasing the statutory redundancy payment and updating legislation regarding the statutory 30-day consultation period around collective redundancies.

The FSU call on both Government Party’s to use the available resources to implement the FSU pre budget proposals and bring forward a budget that supports workers and their families.”

ENDS

Read our full Pre-Budget Submission 2027: https://www.fsunion.org/assets/files/pdf/fsu_pre_budget_submission_2027.pdf