Deputy Doherty blasts ‘outrageous’ treatment of school secretaries and caretakers

Sinn Féin TD for Donegal, Pearse Doherty, has said that it is outrageous that school secretaries and caretakers in Donegal and across the State have been forced into industrial action because of the Government’s continued failure to deliver much needed reforms.

"Across Donegal and the country today, you will see pickets outside of schools from school caretakers and secretaries,” said Teachta Doherty. "For years they have been calling for equal treatment and to benefit from pension and leave entitlements in the same way as their colleagues with public servant status. 

"In fact, they are also just calling for the same benefits that are afforded their equivalents in schools run by Education and Training boards. These are fair and modest demands. Determined to secure pension parity once and for all, their trade union, Fórsa, voted overwhelmingly for indefinite strike action.

“It is absolutely disgraceful that the backbone staff in our Donegal schools - the secretaries and caretakers who keep our schools running - have been left with no option but to take industrial action.

“These workers have been treated as second-class employees for far too long. Like their directly-employed colleagues, they are doing vital jobs in our schools but continue to be denied the same basic rights, entitlements, and security.

“This is not an accident - it is the result of deliberate Government inaction. They have had years to resolve this injustice, and yet here we are with secretaries and caretakers in Donegal forced to fight for what is only fair and decent.

“The treatment of these workers is nothing short of outrageous. They deserve fair pay, they deserve pensions, they deserve sick pay and proper recognition - nothing less will do.

“Sinn Féin stands fully with the secretaries and caretakers in Donegal and right across Ireland.

"This Government must stop dragging its heels and finally put an end to this inequality. It is not good enough for Ministers to continue to ignore them.

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“It’s time for action. School communities, children and parents deserve better - and the secretaries and caretakers who keep our schools going deserve respect and fairness.”