Thousands of school secretaries and caretakers, represented by the trade union Fórsa, are set to begin indefinite strike action next Thursday, as schools across the country prepare to reopen. The strike, which is expected to affect around 2,600 workers, is being taken in pursuit of public service pensions and improved terms of employment.
Fórsa has described the exclusion of these workers from public service terms and pension access as “deliberate and indefensible.” The union stated that while secretaries and caretakers work in the same schools and on the same payroll as teachers and special needs assistants, they are treated as “second-class staff,” being denied key entitlements like occupational sick pay and bereavement leave.
The decision to take industrial action comes after a strong mandate from members, with 98% voting in favour of the strike. The action will impact schools outside of the State’s Education and Training Boards sector.
Andy Pike, Fórsa’s national secretary, called the State’s refusal to grant these workers public service status a “calculated policy decision to maintain inequality.” He added that this policy has “locked out several generations of school staff from secure income in retirement.”
In addition to the strike, Fórsa members plan to rally outside the Department of Public Expenditure on Merrion Street in Dublin on the first day of the action. The union has formally advised the Department of Education that it remains open to meaningful talks to resolve the dispute.
For its part, the Department of Education and Youth has acknowledged the “vitally important role of secretaries and caretakers” within school communities. It noted that progress has been made in recent years to improve their terms and conditions, including being placed on the department’s payroll, improved annual leave, and paid sick leave beyond the statutory requirement. The department has referred the matter to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to assist in resolving the dispute and has committed to continued engagement with all parties.
