Fórsa is recommending acceptance of a package of measures that would see school secretaries transfer to the public service clerical officer pay scale, with 2022 pay increases of between 10.5% and 24.5%, depending on length of service.

The proposal, which follows the union’s lengthy campaign for pay equality for school secretaries and caretakers, would place secretaries with more than ten years’ service on point five of scale, or €29,103 a year,

Those with more than 20 years’ service would move to point seven, which is worth €31,469, and all secretaries would gain from annual increments starting on 1^st September 2022.

The package would immediately see substantial increases for a school secretary currently paid on the national minimum wage rate of €13 an hour:

• A secretary with less than ten years’ service would get a 9 % increase immediately, rising to 10.5% in October
• A secretary with more than ten years’ service would get a 16.4% increase immediately, rising to 19.4% in October
• A secretary with more than 20 years’ service would get a 22.6% immediately, rising to 24.5% in October.

Earnings would be further uplifted by the application of 22 days annual leave and ten paid public holidays. This means that secretaries could get paid for an extra 6.4 weeks a year on the new rates of pay.

And pay would be increased in line with public service pay awards in future, including a 1% increase this month and a further €500 a year from October.

The deal addresses the problem of secretaries signing on when schools are closed by adding increments to the value of the benefits claimed during layoffs over the past year. If they chose this option, they will not have to sign on for job seekers’ benefit.

The number of additional increments would be calculated on the basis of moving to the next point on the scale once the value of the job seekers’ benefit has been established. This means that the assimilation of many secretaries could be well above point seven on the scale, depending on their personal circumstances.

As well as assimilation into the new pay scale, the deal would establish a centralised payroll system and standardised arrangements for maternity leave, sick leave and annual leave.

Fórsa says that, while the proposals do not include any substantial progress on pensions, the union has reserved the right to press the case for suitable pension arrangements in the future. Andy Pike, who leads Fórsa’s Education Division, said the union had not conceded the pension issue

“It has not been possible to meet the pledges made by senior politicians on the provision of pensions at this stage. But the union ensured that the agreement is silent on the pension issue, which means we can deliver substantial pay improvements now, and keep raising and campaigning on the pension issue. Fórsa believes the claim for pension provision is still valid and it will be pursued,” he said.

The union has embarked on a series of regional information meetings for school secretaries ahead of a ballot on the proposals. An online meeting is also scheduled for 14th March.

Andy said the negotiated proposals marked a timely departure from antiquated arrangements for grant paid school secretaries, a system first established in 1978.

“For more than four decades most school secretaries found themselves employed under terms that left them on low pay, with irregular short-term contracts that force them to sign on during the summer holidays and other school breaks.

“Now we've secured access to proper pay scales, with assimilation arrangements that will significantly improve the living standards of school secretaries. This package provides welcome security of income for thousands of staff. Equally, the arrangements for addressing weeks of lay off when schools are closed are beneficial and will ensure that staff are not penalised financially if they choose not to sign on.

“The proposed agreement represents the best possible terms that could be secured from the negotiations,” he said.

A digital ballot of Fórsa's school secretary members is to commence shortly, and the union will provide a detailed analysis of the proposals.  

Meetings next week:

• Donegal/Letterkenny- Monday 7th March in Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny from 7pm to 8.30pm
• Athlone- Tuesday 8th March in Creggan Court Hotel, Athlone from 7pm to 8.30pm
• Cork- Thursday 10th March in Silver Springs Hotel (Clayton Hotels), Cork from 7pm to 8.30pm
• Zoom Meeting – Monday 14th March, 7pm to 8.30pm (more details will be posted at forsa.ie)

Further information about the proposals is available in this special bulletin issued to Fórsa school secretary members last week.