‘No credible reason for further delay’ - Fórsa spokesperson

Fórsa has called on the government to act decisively to end the strike by school secretaries and caretakers. The union said in a statement today that more than half of government TDs have publicly expressed support for the campaign.

The strike is now in its seventh day. Some 2,800 school secretaries and caretakers have withdrawn their labour from around 2,300 schools.

Growing disruption has left many schools struggling to operate, with essential payroll and attendance systems unprocessed and basic services such as refuse collection halted.

Despite the mounting effects of the strike action, the union said there has been no approach from the Dept of Education or the Dt of Public Expenditure to enter talks aimed at resolving the dispute.

Government representatives backing the workers’ claim include three cabinet members, said Fórsa.

A joint statement from the country’s three teacher unions (ASTI, INTO and TUI) this morning urged the government to “end the impasse by entering meaningful negotiations as a matter of urgency”. (See below.)

Fórsa head of education, Andy Pike, said: “When more than half of government TDs, three Cabinet ministers, and the teacher unions representing every school in the country are telling you the same thing, it’s time to listen. The government must move from silence to action, and open meaningful negotiations to resolve this dispute.”

He said the strike is the result of the government’s refusal to treat school secretaries and caretakers equally, despite their essential role in the education system: “In every ETB-run school, secretaries and caretakers are public servants with full pension, sick pay and leave entitlements. Yet in thousands of other schools, staff doing identical work are excluded from those basic provisions.

“This exclusion is unfair, indefensible, and it can be remedied. But we need a proper engagement, and an agreement as to how, and when, school secretaries and caretakers will be integrated into the single public service scheme and other employment conditions,” he said.

The joint statement by teaching unions described the current situation as “unsustainable” and that schools cannot function indefinitely without these vital staff.

Luisa Carty, chair of the Fórsa School Secretaries branch, said members remain committed to their school communities and want to return to work: “Our members are not seeking exceptional treatment. They are seeking fairness, access to the same pensions and entitlements as their colleagues in the public service.

“The government’s silence is eroding confidence across the education community that it is serious about ending this strike. It is time for Ministers McEntee and Chambers to act, and to bring the Departments of Education and Public Expenditure to the table,” she said.

Fórsa said the strike will continue until meaningful talks take place, and an agreement secured on how, and when, school secretaries and caretakers will be integrated into the single public service scheme.

Mr Pike said the political and education-sector consensus leaves the government with no credible reason for further delay.

Teacher Unions Call for Urgent Talks to Resolve Fórsa Dispute – Joint Statement

The ASTI, INTO and TUI are jointly calling on the government to immediately enter negotiations with Fórsa to resolve the issues that have led to ongoing industrial action by school secretaries and caretakers.

In a joint statement today, the general secretaries of the three teacher unions said:

“Since the strike began a week ago, teachers across the country have stood in solidarity with these essential school staff, whose work is indispensable and vital to the smooth running of our schools.

"These workers have been left with no choice but to take action in pursuit of basic entitlements, including access to public service pensions, occupational sick pay, critical illness protocols, and bereavement leave.

"Their campaign has widespread support within the education community and among the general public because their demands are fair, their contribution is invaluable, and their treatment to date has been unjust.

"After a week of disruption, it is clear that schools are struggling to operate as normal. This situation is unsustainable. All industrial disputes are ultimately resolved through face-to-face talks, and it is now incumbent on the State to utilise its dispute-resolution bodies to propose solutions and effect an agreement that will settle the current dispute.

"The three teacher unions urge Minister McEntee, Minister Chambers, and their respective departments to end the impasse by entering meaningful negotiations as a matter of urgency. The time for government intervention is now.”