Reminder! Don’t forget to register for school secretaries and caretakers pension campaign launch, register here.

On Saturday 23rd November at 10am school secretaries and caretakers will launch their campaign calling for fair pensions.

Urging members to attend chair of the school secretaries branch Luisa Carty said: “Without school secretaries and caretakers schools around the country couldn’t function. We keep the places running, and we’re proud of the role we play in the education system. Everyone who works in a school should have the same pension rights.”

After years of campaigning and lengthy negotiations Fórsa school secretaries won a pay agreement in 2022 which led to significant and much needed pay increases for thousands of secretaries. 

Since September 2023 members are now paid directly by the Department of Education, however they still don’t have the same public service pension entitlements as teachers and SNAs.

This phase of the campaign will include a pension claim for our members who are school caretakers as well. While negotiations on a new pay agreement for caretakers are ongoing, the employers refuse to discuss public service pensions. 

 Andy Pike, head of Fórsa’s education division “We have to build a campaign that shows just how unfair the current situation is. The Minister for Education now sets the terms and conditions for all school employees, yet secretaries and caretakers are denied access to the same pension arrangements as their colleagues.”

“By running a joint campaign we mean to send a clear message that school support staff are an equal part of the school community and shouldn’t be given different terms and conditions.”

Andy continued “The general election campaign is well underway now and we want to make sure candidates now how big an issue this is. It’s time to end the pension discrimination that exists in schools across Ireland.”

At the campaign launch on Saturday 23rd November members will hear what’s planned for the campaign and receive further information on how to lobby your local parents’ association, how to seek pledges of support from local community organisations and more.  

Register to attend here.

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.