School Secretaries Strike

[Joolsin]

Just posting in support of the striking secretaries and caretakers in Ireland, they are looking for pension parity and equal leave entitlements to other school staff working alongside them. I've attached an information leaflet, the qr code link is below.

https://act.forsa.ie/pensionparityschools?refsid=74183&utm_source=email_share&utm_campaign=%5B38%5D&utm_medium=share

I collect children from two different primary schools and it's business as usual, secretaries and caretakers carrying on as normal.

As above but with secondary schools and all as normal.

So those secretaries arent FORSA union members I guess? They still take any improvements the striking staff succeed in getting though which I think is so unfair. We have this in the early years sector too, if most of the staff joined SIPTU the union would be so much more powerful, but no most of them are happy to just sit there and take the increase in wages the EROs bring (and often whinge the union didn't get enough of a raise for them)

Education and Training Board schools are not involved as their secretarial staff are admitted to the pension scheme. So it's possible that some schools are not affected at all.

Though I agree about non-union members taking the benefits without supporting the unions. I'm a member of FORSA, I've worked in HR in my particular area, you are better off as a union member. I haven't always supported every public stance they take, but you get a vote at least. This is definitely a policy I support though. I can't picket at local TDs offices today but I have written to all of them asking if they are going to make a statement or support the secretaries. Most of my TDs are left/left leaning, not one comment from them to date!

yes i work in an ETB school and our secretaries and caretakers are working as usual

That's interesting! So would those staff be FORSA members, but not striking? Or FORSA doesn't cover the ETBs?

The schools I collect from are not ETB schools yet the caretakers and secretaries are not out picketing - it's normal service.

FORSA have ETB members, they didn't ballot them re strike and are not calling on them to come out. They have asked that all those who are not involved in strike action to support strikers by signing a petition or attend demonstrations . There are another cohort of secretaries who were directly employed by the department of education who get benefits too so aren't striking. It seems to be a very confusing group. They only achieved pay parity recently. Previously some secretaries were "let go" for holidays and had to sign on. Now they are paid by Dept, over the whole year pro rata. Much like teachers. But for some reason, despite being dept of education employees the newer ones were not given access to pension scheme and other schemes eg certain paid special leave. It's very unfair.

They could already have pension parity or just choose not to be union members. That is their right too. I just hope it doesn't go on too long. My friend's school hit the headlines today. They are staggering classes and teaching remotely. The school is huge, so it's not practical/safe to have full attendance as caretakers are not working. The hot meals in canteen have been discontinued. That will impact the supplier of the meals. Also she is a temporary teacher there (as well as a parent) so her hours won't be sent to dept for pay! Her 5th and 3rd year children are doing remote classes, her first year is in school.