School secretaries, caretakers strike in fight for pension parity

Some 3,000 school secretaries and caretakers who are Fórsa members begin an indefinite strike tomorrow Thursday 28 August, fighting to get public service pensions.

For many of them it will be the first time they go on strike, and often they will be alone on picket lines outside their schools, Fórsa said in a letter to members.

Your support, as their union colleagues, is vital, so we’ve created an easy way for you to show your support.

School secretaries and caretakers do not have access to public service pensions, though they work with teachers and SNAs who do.

Fórsa say the teaching unions are advising their members not to take on the duties of striking colleagues.

Fórsa say that despite widespread support from across the political spectrum, including from Minister of Education Helen McEntee, TD, and the Oireachtas Education Committee, nothing has changed.

The letter states: ‘What’s at stake is fairness. It’s about the school secretary or caretaker who, after 40 years of service, retires with nothing, while their school colleagues leave with secure pensions. It’s about a worker diagnosed with cancer being denied the basic sick pay protections afforded to every other school staff member. That’s why 98% of Fórsa’s school secretary and caretakers voted overwhelmingly to strike.’