Clare school secretaries claim they have no choice but to go on strike in order to push for fair working conditions.
A nationwide ballot of school secretaries is underway for the next two weeks amid a dispute over pension provision.
The ballot has been commenced by the Fórsa trade union which represents over 2,300 secretaries working in Irish primary and secondary schools.
After years of lobbying, a 2023 agreement with the Department of Education secured standardised pay and conditions for school secretaries.
The crux of their argument now, however, is that the agreement didn’t include pension provision under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, meaning secretaries still don’t enjoy the same conditions as other school employees.
Secretary at St Senan’s Primary School in Kilrush, Bernie Dillon says no one wants to go on strike, but they’ve been left with little recourse.
The Department of Education claims as secretaries are employees of schools rather than of the State, providing pension cover is their responsibility.
The Fórsa ballot concludes on Tuesday, June 11th, after which point industrial action may be pursued.
Vice-chairperson and Treasurer of Fórsa School Secretaries Branch on the Clare/Galway border, Rena McGrath, insists the Department of Education must step up and do the right thing.
You can listen to the full interview here:
