Ministers ‘must engage’ with union to halt strike action

Strike action involving school secretaries and caretakers was entirely avoidable if the Education and Finance ministers engaged with Fórsa trade union constructively at an earlier date.

That's according to Sinn Féin Education and Youth spokesperson, Darren O’Rourke TD, who expressed his full support and solidarity with school secretaries and caretakers as they continued indefinite strike action this week.

He reiterated his calls for both ministers to act rationally and come to a fair agreement for these essential school staff.

The industrial action, led by Fórsa, began last Thursday with a rally outside the Department of Public Expenditure’s offices in Dublin. Around 2,600 staff are affected, with pickets set to continue into the coming weeks. Teachers, SNAs, and other staff have been instructed by their unions not to take on the work of striking colleagues.

The dispute centres on access to the public service pension scheme and other entitlements, including bereavement and sick leave.

Although a 2022 agreement placed secretaries in most schools on the public payroll, they are still not officially classified as public servants.

Minister McEntee met briefly with the striking secrearies who were supported in theior protest by Sinn Fein TDs Johnny Guirke and Darren o'Rourke.

"I met with secretaries and caretakers outside my office this morning and reiterated my suppprt for the work they do, the vital role they play in our schools and my desire to reach a conclusion to the ongoing dispute. My department will continue to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform & FORSA with a view to resolving the dispute."

Speaking earlier at St Seachnall's NS in Dunshaughlin, Deputy O'Rourke said: “Andy Pike, Fórsa’s Head of Education, ahead of the talks said that if the union got a ‘little bit down the road’ at the discussions, they may consider calling off today’s strike. It is now quite apparent that neither Minister McEntee or Chambers felt any obligation to open a constructive dialogue and start a discussion on secretary and caretaker pensions with Fórsa.

“It is evident that this strike will continue until a resolution that is suitable for secretaries and caretakers is agreed on. In the interim, schools across the state will be put under pressure to cope without the assistance of their secretaries and caretakers, which is completely unsustainable.

“Minister McEntee has outlined that she knows secretaries don’t want to be on strike, one of her department officials said that they recognise the vitally important role of secretaries and caretakers within school communities. If this is true, then why hasn’t the Minister engaged constructively with Fórsa and put a stop to this strike.

Karen Ann Smyth, school secretary at Mercy Junior School in Kells, said the issue was is solvable. “Some people say, ‘How can you get a pension you never paid into?’ But we never had the opportunity. We were paid by Boards of Management who had no guidance, no structure. Some secretaries were below minimum wage.

“The Department of Finance handled a similar situation before with a notional contribution system. You get your pension entitlements but not the lump sum. It wouldn’t cost the State big money.”

Teresa Cassidy, school secretary at Gaelscoil na Rithe in Dunshaughlin for 27 years, said the strike is about securing equal pay, pensions, and conditions similar to secretaries in the ETB scheme. “We do the same job, but we don’t get the benefits they do. That’s primarily why we’re striking,” she explained.

She added that the public has been overwhelmingly supportive. “Nobody has said we’re wrong for fighting. Most people assume we’re recognised as public servants, but they don’t realise we don’t have the same pay and conditions.”

She also addressed a common misconception about school secretary pay. “The bulk of the school sector gets 22 days’ holidays a year, same as everyone else. The Department’s pay deal spreads the summer eight weeks with jobseeker’s allowance over 52 weeks.

“Previously we had to go down to the Job Centre and sign on; now the fortnightly pay is spread automatically.”

Cassidy stressed that school secretaries do far more than clerical work.

“We handle payroll for SNAs, teachers, bus escorts, and ancillary staff. We manage accounts, purchasing, and all incoming resources. We organise garden projects and other activities.

“It’s a huge range of admin and operational work, not just answering phones or sending out lunches.”