Fórsa successfully represented a school secretary based in a school in Munster, who was being pressurised to sign a contract which would have enshrined a retirement age of 66, without any objective justification for same.

This would have effectively led to the dismissal of the secretary who was already above the age of 66.

Official Gary Honer secured a contract of indefinite duration for the member following intense negotiations. This alleviated the school’s concerns, removed the retirement provisions, and ensured there was no discrimination on age grounds.

Gary said that it was an intense meeting in which the school had entrenched views.

“The school were using a proforma contract that was cut and pasted from a management body website which had various inaccuracies and exacerbated the issues for the member we were representing,” he explained.

Gary reminded school management of their duties as both patron and school manager.

“I also brought up various recent WRC cases which found in favour of employees in similar cases. Thankfully the school changed their mind, and a contract of indefinite duration was put to the member,” he said.