The Daily Star Ireland
Talks are taking place at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in an effort to head off strike action by school secretaries and caretakers, which is set to begin tomorrow. The dispute centres on access to public sector pensions and other entitlements, with workers and their union Fórsa arguing that they are being treated as “second-class citizens.”
Union demands for parity
Fórsa’s Head of Education, Andy Pike, said ahead of the talks that the union is hoping for a meaningful proposal from the Government side. “They can’t keep ignoring the issue. Why don’t they just start talking to us about pensions?” he asked. Pike added that if the Government commits to beginning genuine discussions on granting secretaries and caretakers the same pension rights as teachers and SNAs, industrial action could be called off.
He emphasised that workers are not expecting a full resolution immediately but want clear confirmation that a process to regularise pensions for all school staff will begin. “We don’t need the process to be finished today, we just need an indication that it will start,” Pike explained.
Workers’ frustration and determination
At a meeting in Dublin on Tuesday night, secretaries and caretakers voiced their resolve. School secretary Luisa Carty told colleagues that this moment offers a unique chance to achieve pension equality: “We will see this through all the way.” Caretaker Dave Hearne echoed the sentiment, describing the current system as two-tier, with teachers and SNAs benefiting from public service pensions while secretaries and caretakers are left out. “We need to stand up for ourselves, this is our last chance and we have to take it,” he said.
More than 2,600 Fórsa members are due to begin indefinite strike action from tomorrow, with around 2,000 schools expected to be affected. While the Department of Education has instructed schools to open as normal, other unions have urged their members not to take on the duties of striking secretaries and caretakers. A rally is also planned outside the Department of Public Expenditure.
Government response
The Department of Education and Youth acknowledged the vital role secretaries and caretakers play in school communities and said it has already made progress in improving their terms and conditions. In recent years, secretaries have been placed on the department’s payroll, linked to public sector pay increases, and granted better annual leave, enhanced maternity provisions, and sick leave beyond statutory requirements.
Despite these changes, Fórsa argues that pension parity remains the central issue. The department stated that it will continue engaging with all parties in the coming period, but workers say only a firm commitment on pensions will prevent strike action.
