Dear members,

Tonight, following seven days of indefinite strike, we have secured an agreement at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that is designed to bring the current strike by school secretaries and caretakers to an end. Read the agreement here.

The current strike action will be withdrawn to allow the implementation of the agreement.

The key element of the agreement is a commitment from government to negotiate comparable pension entitlements for school secretaries and caretakers.

This is a breakthrough and represents the first time the State has formally accepted the principle that school secretaries and caretakers should not be excluded from pension entitlements comparable to those available to teachers and SNAs.

In addition, the agreement provides for structured discussions on other parts of our claim.

This includes the conclusion of a pay framework agreement for caretakers (as agreed in the 2022 WRC process), access to bereavement leave, access to sick leave and acute illness protocols, and the full implementation of payroll arrangements.

Tonight’s agreement at the WRC is a major step forward for school secretaries and caretakers.

The commitment to negotiate comparable pension entitlements is a significant advance, and one that you have fought hard to achieve. Alongside progress on sick pay, leave, and payroll arrangements, it provides a fair basis for you to return to work on Monday.

Talks to negotiate the details of all of the above will begin on Wednesday 10th September.

This is your win, your campaign, your achievement. Without your determination and relentless organisation, we could never have gotten to this point. Your pursuit of fairness and equal treatment has defined this strike. The unprecedented public support demonstrated that the immense value of your work is recognised all over this country.

I want to pay particular tribute to the chairs of the school secretaries and caretakers branches, Luisa Carty and Dave Hearne, and all committee members who have worked tirelessly on this campaign.

It is now the responsibility of the State to honour this agreement and deliver on its commitments.

Yours,

Andy Pike
Head of Education