Major step forward for Tipperary school staff as strike action is withdrawn
School secretaries and caretakers withdraw strike action
Schools throughout Tipperary returned to normal on Monday morning as the industrial action of secretaries ands caretakers was withdrawn.
The strike had affected over seventy schools in the county with over 100 secretaries and caretakers on strike in a battle for pension parity and other basic entitlements.
The school strike action was withdrawn as Fórsa secured agreement at WRC to resolve dispute.
Fórsa trade union has confirmed that agreement has been reached at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) designed to bring the current strike by school secretaries and caretakers to an end.
Fórsa confirmed that strike action will be withdrawn to allow the implementation of the agreement.
The key element of the agreement is a Government commitment to negotiate comparable pension entitlements for school secretaries and caretakers.
PENSION RIGHTS
Fórsa said this breakthrough represents the first time the State has formally accepted the principal that these essential staff should not be excluded from pension entitlements comparable to those available to teachers and SNAs.
In addition, the agreement provides for structured discussions on other parts of the union’s claim.
This includes the conclusion of a pay framework agreement for caretakers (as agreed in the 2022 WRC process), access to bereavement leave, access to sick leave and acute illness protocols, and the full implementation of payroll arrangements.
Fórsa said these measures reflect long-standing issues that its members have campaigned to resolve.
Fórsa’s head of education, Andy Pike, said: “The agreement at the WRC is a major step forward for school secretaries and caretakers. The commitment to negotiate comparable pension entitlements is a significant advance, and one that our members have fought hard to achieve. Alongside progress on sick pay, leave, and payroll arrangements, it provides a fair basis for our members to return to their schools and communities.
“This agreement reflects the determination of school secretaries and caretakers, who have stood together over the past week in pursuit of fairness and equal treatment. It is now the responsibility of the State to honour this agreement and deliver on its commitments.”
The breakthrough in the dispute was welcomed this week by Cllr Richie Molloy.
Cllr Molloy said he hoped now that the Government would finally provide school secretaries and caretakers with the pension and other basic work entitlements that they deserve.
Cllr Richie Molloy said he supported all school secretaries and caretakers who were the lifeblood of any school and have been left down by successive Governments and now it was hightime that they are treated the same as all employees in the educational sector.
“ It is only common sense that these talks are now commencing but promises have been made in the past and this time round the government has to commit to ensuring that these workers are treated the same as all other employees in the sector” he said.