Over the past few weeks, the Fórsa Trade Union logo has been visible in every town, city and county of Ireland as school secretaries and caretakers began their indefinite strike action for pensions, fair leave entitlements and a pay agreement for caretakers. Social media was alight with photos and videos of school staff, parents, students and our own public representatives on the picket lines chanting and singing for a fair deal.
School secretaries in particular have fought for many years to have “pension parity” with their school colleagues, something that has caused confusion for some of the general public so let me explain…. Pension parity was not for school secretaries to have the exact same pension entitlements as teachers or SNAs, but to be included in the Public Service Pension Scheme as is the case for all public servants and as is the case for some school secretaries.
In the school year 1978/79, a contract was introduced giving some school secretaries and caretakers these very entitlements leading to where we are today with some staff having access and others not. In my own school for example, we have two secretaries sitting side by side; one who has these entitlements and one who does not. If lucky enough to work for an ETB (Education and Training Board) these vitally important school staff also have this fair deal, so why shouldn’t all staff? This is the question that has been asked for many, many years and why secretaries and caretakers had no other choice but to take to the picket line.
I am a proud trade unionist and Fórsa member but I have never been prouder to be a SocDem during the strike. To see councillors and TDs on the picket lines, issuing statements of support and standing in solidarity with my school colleagues lifted my heart. Purple flags flew high in solidarity and social media was awash with purple standing hand in hand with green Fórsa flags. It was a strong statement, one of which Fórsa has recognised, and I thank each and every member who participated in showing solidarity.
On Friday 5th September, Fórsa Head of Education, Andy Pike, confirmed an agreement had been signed, committing the Government to negotiate ‘comparable pension entitlements’ for school secretaries and caretakers.
In a communication to members issued that evening, Andy described the agreement as a breakthrough. It marked the first time the State has formally accepted the principle that school secretaries and caretakers should not be excluded from pension entitlements comparable to those available to teachers and SNAs. This is the power of unity- the power of trade unionism. For 40 odd years this has been an issue for caretakers and secretaries. As a result of joining together, showing confidence and trusting in their union, a solution is now within reaching distance. Whether you work in the public or private sector, the lesson is the same: unions are not a thing of the past. A union’s strength comes from its members, and when we stand together, we achieve change that would be impossible alone.
Fairness and equality are core values of the Social Democrats, and they’re also the foundation of trade unionism. When you join your union, you do more than protect your own rights; you add strength to a collective voice that demands justice, respect, and progress for all. If you’ve not joined your union, join today. Anything is possible when we come together – we’re better in a union!
Cllr. Jesslyn Henry is a Social Democrats representative for Artane-Whitehall, and an activist with the Fórsa Trade Union