Financial Services Union Annual Report 2020

A Message from John O'Connell, General Secretary

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to acknowledge and state my appreciation to all the officers and staff of the FSU and the thousands of members across the Country who have worked tirelessly over the past year providing help and support to those who need it in a professional and friendly manner.

The personal challenges of living with Covid 19 will leave an indelible mark on all of us and I would like to convey my condolences to everyone who has lost a loved one during the year.

When I look back at the role that our members and staff have played over the last twelve months It makes me extremely proud to be General Secretary of this Union.

There were many items in the in-tray at the start of 2020 and I will attempt to summarise the main themes that we as a Union prioritised during the year.

Good Governance is a vital ingredient to any organisation. It was with this in mind that the General Council commissioned a complete review of our Governance codes. The review was undertaken by the Institute of Public Administration the report made twenty-two recommendations in total which were discussed and accepted by General Council. We are currently working through the implementation of the recommendations to ensure thatthe Union is meeting its obligations to its members and staff. I believe we all recognise the need to modernise our structures and rules as we plan for the future.

DHR Communications were commissioned to undertake a complete review of our communications strategy. The recommendations, agreed by the General Council ranged from agreeing templates and a structure for internal communication to measuring outputs and a plan for public engagement with major stakeholders. An implementation plan is in place and is on target. It is my intention to ensure our Union is an influential stakeholder which fights for the needs of its members.

The FSU are an active member of the Irish Banking Culture Board. We are all agreed that the poor culture of the past needs to change. Culture does not change overnight, and bad culture needs to be exposed at every opportunity. The FSU has and will continue to call out some of the main Banks for poor decisions that impact on staff and customers and we will work progressively as members of the Culture Board with all stakeholders to achieve the necessary changes.

Organising is key to the future of the Union. Presently we are active in over 100 companies across the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain. We have set up a strategic organising committee to look at the challenges that face us and to positively explore the opportunities for growth that undoubtably exist. This is a key priority for the union and our focus on organising will intensify over the next twelve months. 2020 was a strange year in many ways and a very challenging year for us all. Let us be proud of our achievements whilst at the same time remain focused on the future needs of our members.

We organise to win decent pay, fair work, and better working conditions for you. This is the challenge but also the
opportunity.

I look forward to the next time we can meet in more normal surroundings.

Please stay safe and look after yourself.

John O’Connell
General Secretary