School secretaries and caretakers return to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) today, Friday 26th September. 

This is the second engagement since the strike action by the workers was withdrawn, following the WRC agreement (5th September) committing the Government to negotiate ‘comparable pension entitlements’ for school secretaries and caretakers. 

As engagement continues at the WRC, the union remains focused on pension arrangements, in addition to the agreed commitments to conclude a pay framework agreement for caretakers (as agreed in 2022), access to bereavement leave, access to sick leave and acute illness protocols, and the full implementation of payroll arrangements. 

Fórsa’s head of education Andy Pike said: “As these important negotiations continue, we hope that the government side will now move rapidly to put forward workable proposals that deliver on its agreed commitment to provide genuine parity in pensions and conditions for school secretaries and caretakers. We will not necessarily be able to provide extensive details on the progress of these talks today but will update members when possible.” 

Fórsa officials are taking part in the talks along with representatives from both branch committees.  

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