As a result of the Fórsa negotiated School Secretary Pay Agreement, grant paid school secretaries who would normally be laid off during the summer months, will for the first time remain on full salary during weeks of school closure.

This hard fought win results from the commitment in the pay agreement to agree a mechanism to ensure school secretaries were not compelled to sign-on during weeks when the schools are closed.

From September onwards, school secretaries will receive an allowance of €220 per week for each week where the school does not pay them. This a will be an off-scale allowance and will not affect incremental progression up the new pay-scale.

The allowance will be added to annual salary, averaged over 52 weeks, and will be paid through the Department of Education non-teaching payroll system.

This new element of the agreement provides a simple and straightforward way of adding in the value of Job Seekers Benefit to salaries, without the need for staff to present statements of benefits.

The allowance will be available to all secretaries currently paid through the ancillary grant system solely based on weeks of lay-off from their school.

Members in receipt of benefits other than Job Seekers Benefits such as Widows Pension, Carers Benefit and other entitlements will also qualify for the allowance.

A copy of the newsletter setting out the agreed terms will be distributed by the Department. You can view a copy of the text here.

There’s never been a better time to join a union, and it’s never been easier. Join Fórsa today.