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Pressure is building for increased efforts to resolve a prolonged dispute – and prevent industrial action that could affect the first day back at school for thousands of pupils.
Educational institutions nationwide will face disruption as an open-ended strike is scheduled to commence on the first day of term following the summer break, August 28. Caretakers and administrative staff are demanding public sector pensions and benefits as they feel they are being treated unjustly compared to other educational personnel such as teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).
In 2023, school administrative staff were transferred onto the centralised public payroll, which provided significant salary enhancements. Nevertheless, they remain excluded from public sector pension arrangements and lack entitlement to occupational sick leave or compassionate leave, reports the Irish Mirror.
Caretakers were assured of an equivalent pay package, but continue to wait. At present, they receive payment from the school’s Ancillary Services Grant.
The industrial action will begin on August 28 with a demonstration on Merrion Street outside the Department of Education headquarters. From September 1, Fórsa members will subsequently establish picket lines at educational establishments throughout the nation.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education and Youth, Darren O’Rourke, appealed for a settlement. He said: “It is completely unacceptable that Ministers Jack Chambers and Helen McEntee have still not engaged with Fórsa to try to put an end to the uncertainty and concern facing school secretaries, caretakers and the wider school community.
“Schools are beginning to reopen and this issue has not been resolved. Principals and teachers have valid concern about how they are going keep things running smoothly if their secretaries and caretakers are forced to strike. Minister McEntee says the matter is referred to the WRC but that’s simply not good enough.
“School secretaries and caretakers are looking to be treated equally with their colleagues. Their colleagues are entitled to a pension, sick pay and bereavement leave. This is not outrageous, so why should secretaries and caretakers be excluded and treated as second class staff. There is no reasonable excuse for this state of affairs to continue.
“We have heard the stories of secretaries and caretakers being given a pat on the back and a bunch of flowers as they retire. A word of thanks will not provide any financial security upon retirement to these vital staff members who work so hard for their schools.
“Fórsa have put it very clearly, what is at stake is fairness, ‘This is about the school secretary or caretaker who after 40 years of service, retires with nothing, while their colleagues leave with a pension’.
“We have a matter of days left to avert this strike action, so every hour matters here. The total neglect of this situation from both Ministers is beginning to jeopardise the smooth reopening and functioning of our schools.
“I am urging both Minister Chambers and McEntee to take responsibility and act swiftly to prevent strike action from going ahead and to work with Fórsa to provide a fair agreement that provides our secretaries and caretakers with equality and security.”
Earlier this week, a school caretaker shared his perspective on the dispute. David Hearne, a school caretaker from Waterford, revealed that the average rate for the role is €13 to €13.50 an hour.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, he said: “We have caretakers who have been in schools for 15 years plus who haven’t had a major increase in any shape or form, only when the national wage is moved up. We have one caretaker who is 17 years in service and is on €13.50 an hour.
“It’s really hitting us. I am lucky enough that I am recently married and I don’t have any kids yet but I do have a mortgage and I feel the pinch myself.”
Mr Hearne mentioned that an unnamed TD asked him if he could contribute to a private pension, but given the rising cost of living, this isn’t feasible for him. He added: “When I get paid my wages on a Friday I take money for my mortgage, I’ve to put food on the table and I’m left with about €40 discretionary cash every week. What do you want me to do, be left with €0? I cannot physically afford to be paying into a private pension.”
Despite being just 35 years old, the caretaker revealed he frets constantly about his future without a pension scheme. He added: “At the moment it’s just me and my wife, but if we are lucky enough to have a child am I going to be able to keep working where I’m working and provide for my family? I don’t know, I don’t have the answer to that.
“It would absolutely kill me to have to leave the school because it is such a nice place to work. The staff are amazing, it’s a joy to get up in the morning and go to work. It’s such a nice atmosphere and to leave that will kill me.”
Mr Hearne emphasised that the last thing he or his fellow caretakers and secretaries nationwide want to do is take industrial action. They were all eagerly anticipating welcoming back the pupils following the lengthy summer holidays, but the caretaker maintains they have been “left with no option”.
He continued: “We have tried and tried, we gave the Department of Education formal notice on June 14 that we were going on strike and they haven’t come near us.”
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