The campaign for fair pensions for school secretaries and caretakers will be re-launched on Saturday 23rd November at 10am in Nerney’s Court.  

The Fórsa school secretary pay agreement concluded in 2022 provided for significant and much needed pay increases for thousands of secretaries. As members are now paid directly by the Department of Education, it is time to move to the next phase of this campaign, which is a claim for access to the same public service pension entitlements as provided to 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. 

The decision to exclude secretaries and caretakers from the public service pension scheme stands in stark contrast with the arrangements for other schools staff, including teachers and special needs assistants who have access to the pension scheme.  

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. Whilst progress continues to be made on levels of pay, there is much work to do to build a national campaign that can succeed in winning pension rights for members. 

The campaign launch on Saturday 23rd November is an opportunity for members to come and hear what is planned for the next phase of the campaign, including details of how to lobby your local parents’ association, how to seek pledges of support from local community organisations and more.  

Speakers at the launch will include Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan, ICTU general secretary and European Trade Union Confederation General Secretary Esther Lynch.

Fórsa’s head of Education Andy Pike said: “It is now time to move on to the next phase of the campaign seeking public service status for all school staff. This decades long injustice has no place in our education system. Schools could not function without their secretary and caretaker, yet thousands of secretaries and caretakers have retired after many years of service to the State with no pension provision. It will take a monumental effort from all our members to apply the necessary pressure to finally secure proper pensions.”

“Unfortunately, neither this nor any other  Government will agree to provide proper pensions to our members willingly. We are going to have to fight very hard to achieve that objective and we will need every member to play a role in what lies ahead.  

“As we move into the general election campaign our members have an opportunity to send a clear message to the incoming Government that it is time to end the injustice and open up the pension scheme for Secretaries and Caretakers in our Schools.”

Members are encouraged to attend this important event and to get involved in the various campaign activities throughout this school year.

Places at the launch event will be limited, please email rharrison@forsa.ie to register.

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