Latest news with #SinglePublicServicePensionScheme
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
School secretaries and caretakers show support for pension strike
School secretaries and caretakers could strike when schools reopen after the summer break in pursuit of better pension provisions after a trade union ballot returned a strong mandate for such a move. The trade union Fórsa, which represents the school-workers has said 98% of those who voted supported indefinite strike action, with over 81% of those members participating in the ballot. Fórsa represents more than 2,300 school secretaries working in primary and secondary schools and 500 school caretakers. It said the mandate for strike action followed the union's efforts to secure access for school secretaries to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, from which they remain excluded despite being on the Department of Education's centralised payroll since 2023. Its Education Divisional Executive will now consider the next steps. The union has indicated that an indefinite strike by school secretaries and caretakers commencing on the 28 August at the start of the new school term in the autumn is a possibility. "Our members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action because they believe the campaign for pension equality must be seen through to its conclusion", the union's Head of Education Andy Pike said. "These are committed professionals who contribute to the successful operation of every school, and they should be entitled to the same pension rights as their colleagues across the public service." Mr Pike said the ballot result reflected growing frustration with the continued refusal to grant pension parity despite a 2023 agreement that secured the standardisation of pay, contracts, and centralised payroll arrangements for school secretaries. The union said it is expecting to finalise similar arrangements for school caretakers this year. Mr Pike added: "The absence of pension provision under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme remains a glaring omission. "We urge the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to re-engage with Fórsa to reach a fair and equitable resolution."
Irish Independent
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
School secretaries and caretakers vote in favour of indefinite strike action from start of school term for ‘pension justice'
A Fórsa spokesperson said their members were 'near unanimous' in the ballot result as 98pc supported stoppages. Fórsa said its Education Divisional Executive will now consider the next steps. The spokesperson said an indefinite strike by school secretaries and caretakers will begin at the start of the new school term from August 28. Fórsa represents more than 2,300 school secretaries and 500 school caretakers working in primary and secondary schools. Fórsa is aiming to secure access for school secretaries to a public service pension scheme, known as the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. The spokesperson said they are excluded from the scheme despite being on the Department of Education's centralised payroll since 2023. Andy Pike, Fórsa's head of education, said the ballot result sends a clear message about the strength of feeling among school secretaries and caretakers. 'Our members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action because they believe the campaign for pension equality must be seen through to its conclusion,' he said. 'These are committed professionals who contribute to the successful operation of every school, and they should be entitled to the same pension rights as their colleagues across the public service. He said the ballot result reflects growing frustration with the 'continued refusal' to grant pension parity, despite a 2023 agreement that secured the standardisation of pay, contracts, and centralised payroll arrangements for school secretaries. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Pike said the union expects to finalise similar arrangements for school caretakers this year. 'The agreement in 2023 marked a major milestone in recognising the essential role of school secretaries,' he said. 'But the absence of pension provision under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme remains a glaring omission. Fórsa has always argued that pension justice is an essential part of full equality.' He urged the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to re-engage with the union. The Irish Independent has asked the Department of Education for a comment.
Irish Examiner
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Union ballots school secretaries on strike action over exclusion from pension scheme
More than 2,300 secretaries in Irish primary and secondary schools may go on indefinite strike over a pensions' dispute, a trade union has warned. Fórsa said a ballot of its members is now under way as part of an ongoing campaign to secure access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme for school secretaries across the country. While the union was successful following a long-running dispute with the Department of Education in bringing an end to a two-tier pay system for school secretaries, this agreement did not include access to the public service pension scheme. The ballot for indefinite strike action was said to reflect the level of frustration members feel about being excluded from the pension scheme, despite the regularisation of other arrangements two years ago. Andy Pike, Fórsa's head of education, said the 2023 agreement successfully standardised pay and conditions to end years of disparity in pay, contracts and job security but left a 'significant gap in the effort to achieve full equality'. 'Fórsa has consistently argued that pension justice is an essential and inseparable part of the process of regularising school secretaries into Department of Education employment. Like every other grade overseen by the department, they must now be afforded the same pension entitlements as other public service workers.' Mr Pike said that school secretaries are highly skilled, dedicated workers who play a central role in the daily operations of schools right around the country. He said to exclude them from key pension entitlements available to others 'undermines the progress already made'. He urged the departments of education and public expenditure to re-engage with the union meaningfully on the matter. 'A fair and equitable resolution must be reached. School secretaries deserve to be treated in the same way as other public service workers under the department's remit,' Mr Pike added. The ballot is set to conclude on June 11 after which indefinite strike action may follow. Speaking earlier this month, education minister Helen McEntee indicated that discussions were ongoing regarding this pension ask from unions. 'That is engagement that will have to happen as part of an overall engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform,' she said. 'They are an integral part of our schools and it is really important that we support them in every way we can.' The Department of Education was contacted for comment. Read More Kevin Callinan: Working from home is a real political issue
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
More than 2,300 school secretaries begin ballot on strike action
A spokesperson at Fórsa, which represents school secretaries in primary and secondary schools, said the ballot began today. It is part of a campaign to enable school secretaries to become member of a public service pension scheme. Union officials said they are excluded from the pension scheme despite joining the Department of Education's centralised payroll in 2023. Andy Pike, Fórsa's head of education, said a union agreement with the department in 2023 successfully standardised pay and conditions for school secretaries, ending years of disparity in pay, contracts, and job security. 'It was a landmark agreement, marking a major step forward in recognising the critical role of school secretaries in our education system,' he said. 'However, the agreement did not include pension provision under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, and this has left a significant gap in the effort to achieve full equality.' He said pension justice is an inseparable part of the process of regularising school secretaries into Department of Education employment. Mr Pike said they must be afforded the same pension entitlements as other public service workers. 'School secretaries are highly skilled and dedicated professionals,' he said. He said they play a central role in the daily operations of every school and provide crucial leadership in every school community. ADVERTISEMENT 'That school secretaries remain excluded from the public service pension scheme undermines the progress already made,' he said. He said the ballot reflects members' determination to see the process through to its conclusion. Mr Pike said Fórsa is urging the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform to re-engage meaningfully on the matter. 'A fair and equitable resolution must be reached,' he said. 'School secretaries deserve to be treated in the same way as other public service workers under the department's remit.' The ballot will end on Tuesday, June 11.
