‘Urgent’ that minister gets fair pay for school secretaries, says Cork TD

A Cork TD has called for the minister for education to come to an agreement with Fórsa ahead of a planned strike of school secretaries and caretakers.

School secretaries and caretakers, who are members of the Fórsa trade union, are set to go on an indefinite strike on August 28.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, told The Echo: “Urgent action is needed from Minister McEntee to ensure our school secretaries and caretakers can come back to work in September with a fair, equal, and adequate pay-and-pension agreement that recognises the hard work these essential staff provide to our schools right across the state.

“I have been informed by Fórsa that there has been no contact made with them by the minister or her department, seeking to resolve this dispute.

“I am utterly shocked that Minister McEntee has not stepped in before now and has allowed most of the summer to pass, letting stress and worry fester within our school communities, who are unsure if they will have their pivotal school secretaries and caretakers at their posts when schools reopen in September. This is no way to treat our school secretaries and caretakers.”

They have worked for many years without access to a proper pension, he said: “We have heard the story of secretaries being handed a bunch of flowers and a pat on the back as they retire with little financial security.

“We are also aware of the lack of pay and entitlements for our school secretaries and caretakers. For the vast majority of school caretakers, their pay has not changed since 2019, standing at €13 per hour, 50 cent below the minimum wage in Ireland.

“As it stands, both secretaries and caretakers are not entitled to occupational sick pay, bereavement leave, and, crucially, the single public service pension scheme. These are the basic entitlements every employee should be entitled to.”

He concluded: “We know school secretaries and caretakers don’t want to take this action, but are left with no alternative. Our school secretaries and caretakers are not asking for a lot: They are simply asking to be recognised and treated equally with their colleagues.”