End-of-term message for education members
by Niall Shanahan
 
With a new government in place and commitments from some of the governing parties to address school secretary pay inequity, Andy said he looked forward to re-convening talks under the auspices of the WRC in the coming weeks.
With a new government in place and commitments from some of the governing parties to address school secretary pay inequity, Andy said he looked forward to re-convening talks under the auspices of the WRC in the coming weeks.

Fórsa’s head of education Andy Pike has recorded a special end-of-term video message for the union’s growing membership in the education sector.

 

Andy addresses a range of issues affecting Fórsa’s 15,000-plus members in schools and early education, as well as clerical, administrative, management staff in institutes of technology and education and training boards.

 

He looks ahead to the re-opening of schools and colleges in September and comments on the new programme for government.

 

On the creation of a new Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (headed by minister Simon Harris) Andy said it should be a positive development for the higher education sector, providing a greater focus on further education and recognising the sector’s key role in the country’s economic recovery.

 

On the programme for government, Andy said that while there are interesting proposals on education policy, there appeared little in the way of solid delivery for schools. Reflecting on the controversy over SNA reassignments at the height of the Covid-19 crisis in April and May, Andy added: “The new government wouldn’t have to try too hard to improve on the performance of the last one.”

 

School secretaries

 

Andy reflects on the strike by school secretaries in January. While there appeared to be momentum toward a solution to the dispute as a result of the strike at the time, the general election and the Covid-19 crisis halted progress.

 

With a new government in place and commitments from some of the governing parties to address school secretary pay inequity, Andy said he looked forward to re-convening talks under the auspices of the WRC in the coming weeks and meeting with Norma Foley, the new Minister for Education and Skills.

 

Schools re-opening

 

Looking ahead to a new term in September, Andy said the union won’t be distracted from its priorities to ensure safety measures are in place to protect staff and students.

 

He identifies three specific issues affecting SNAs on a safe return to work. These are the need to bring clarity on the issue of social distancing, the provision of appropriate PPE and the provision of additional SNAs in order to ensure the required complement of staff to operate safely. He said the department hasn’t done enough to ensure the availability of substitute SNAs if school ‘pods’ or teams are to be properly organised.

 

Andy also encouraged SNAs, school secretaries and caretakers to get involved with their own school’s Covid support plan, emphasising that this shouldn’t be left entirely to teachers.

 

Preparations

 

Andy said the union expects the new school and college terms to be very different and very complex, and Fórsa will be issuing bespoke advice to members in different areas accordingly. He said the objective, in all instances, is to maximise safety.

 

Andy thanked all the members for their input and actions during very difficult times, and said one of the effects of the Covid-19 crisis and the controversies around SNA reassignment was that the division’s membership has increased significantly.

 

“At more than 15,000-strong this puts us on a much better footing in our dealings with employers. So we will look forward to being able to achieve more for our members as we move into the next term,” he said.

 

You can watch Andy’s video message HERE or in the viewing panel below.

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