School Secretaries and Caretakers Begin Indefinite Strike for Fair Pensions

School secretaries and caretakers across Ireland have begun indefinite strike action in a major escalation of their campaign for pension inclusion and equal treatment. The strike, organised by Fórsa trade union, affects more than 2,600 school staff nationwide.

Talks Collapse Without Progress

Engagement at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) on Wednesday 27th August ended without any outcome. Fórsa reported that the Department of Education did not set out its position on the request to admit secretaries and caretakers into the public service pension scheme.

The WRC concluded that the gap between both parties was too wide for resolution at this stage.

Standing in Solidarity

I stood in solidarity with striking school staff outside the Tánaiste’s office. School secretaries and caretakers are the heart of every school. They are the people who open the doors every morning, keep the buildings safe and running, answer every call, support families, and keep the whole system moving.

Teachers could not do their jobs without them. They are the people who make sure children have the environment and support they need to get a proper education. Yet, despite decades of service, these staff are still denied basic entitlements like pensions, sick pay, and bereavement leave.

Calls for Fairness

School secretaries and caretakers are employed under the same arrangements as teachers and special needs assistants. They are appointed by boards of management, paid through the Department of Education, and their terms are set by the Minister for Education. Despite this, they remain outside the public service pension scheme.

Meanwhile, secretaries in ETB schools already have full public service status, including pension access, proof that change is possible, but being deliberately withheld.

A Fight for Pension Parity

This strike is not just about pensions. It’s about recognising the crucial role these workers play in education. Without them, schools could not function, and our children would not receive the education they deserve.

Decades of political promises have failed to deliver, and it is clear that only action will force change. Fórsa members have shown incredible courage in voting for indefinite strike action, and they will continue until pension parity and basic fairness are secured.

This fight is long overdue. School secretaries and caretakers deserve to retire with dignity, not just a handshake and a bunch of flowers. They deserve the same respect and rights as every other school staff member, and it’s time the State finally delivered.