As the dust settles on a seven-day strike by Fórsa school secretaries and caretakers, we’ve one last video to share - one that captures the colour, the spirit, and the sheer energy from the pickets and protests that shook the country last week. 

From mass rallies outside the Dáil and the Department of Education in both Dublin and Athlone, to pickets outside quiet rural schools and on busy urban streets, to the noisy new tactic of protesting outside politicians’ constituency offices - everywhere it was the warmth of friends and family, the solidarity of other school workers, and the constant beeps of passing cars that kept morale sky high. 

Nobody saw the scale of this movement coming. And yet here it was. Luisa Carty, Chair of the union's school secretaries branch didn’t mince her words: 

“We're sending a very clear message to the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure that we're not standing down, we're going to stay out outside our schools indefinitely. We are not giving up. We're here for the long haul, no doubt about it. We want to make sure that those people inside in the building hear what we have to say. It's like they had their heads buried in the sand.” 

In Gort, one worker of twenty years has a pension already, but he was inspired by the rally in Dublin and travelled to Athlone to stand with colleagues. “Like if we were out sick for a day there's mayhem,” he says. 

At a school in Phibsboro, principal Ray Ryan stood on the picket with his colleagues Colette and Derek, saying: “My school cannot run effectively without a caretaker or without a secretary. They're getting the message loud and clear now, and there's a lot of support outside the school this morning. Parents really, truly understand how important the role of a caretaker and secretary is.” 

And outside the Department in Dublin, Elaine Finn put it plainly: “We're the only people in our school who are not recognized by the government as public workers. On a daily basis we liaise with the likes of the HSE, we do the online claim system. We deal with a lot of government agencies, and we are doing the job of public servants but are not recognised as such.” 

Her colleague Dominic, 32 years a caretaker, still working aged 82, says he loves his job - but the frustration in his voice is obvious. His is the human cost of government neglect. 

“We work hard all year round. I’m first in the mornings and I’m last to leave.” 

The following week, after a day on school pickets, members assembled at government TD’s offices around the country, and at Leinster House in Dublin. Sharon Coady, 18 years a school secretary, spoke about what others take for granted: “There’s parts of the job that nobody sees, that nobody values but we know we do a good job.” 

For her, much of the work is invisible, emotional labour. “Kids trust us and come to us when they need things. And like the office is like such a haven for children, which is important to me.” 

Picketing outside her school in Marino, Jacinta Brady, a secretary with 32 years’ service says: “I'd like to have some security at the end of it. We always preach equality, but we're not treated equally. And that's basically what we're calling for.” 

In Dunmore East, friends, family, and fellow staff joined a rain-soaked picket. Even the kids got involved, lining up like a football team and chanting “Pension! Pension! Pension!” with their secretary, Eileen O’Sullivan, at the centre. A long-time organiser, she’s had enough and it’s a day tinged with emotion. 

“We've been over 20 years trying to fight this injustice in our schools. I just came to work this morning, but for the first time in 31 years, I cried before I came up because it's a job I love, and I can't see why I should be out here on a picket asking for something that we are entitled to.” 

In Ferrybank, Waterford, caretaker branch chair David Hearne was on the phone, buzzing as he co-ordinated pickets across the area. “It feels good. It feels good to know we’re still going full steam ahead and we’re not stopping anytime soon.” 

Back in Dublin, Marino caretaker Liam summed it up the strength collective action has demonstrated, saying: “It's bizarre that in this day and age that people can be expected to do so much, have no recourse, nothing. You know, they have no pension at the end of it. It's disgraceful. Join a union. Stand together there’s safety in numbers. Stand together. Shoulder to shoulder, one for all, all for one.” 

Two decades of waiting, years of frustration, a campaign built over two years and a week of unstoppable action. A strike that nobody saw coming, but one that’s already written itself into history. 

Watch the video here. 

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