Pickets planned at the gates of Leitrim schools as they brace for strike action

Over 2,600 school secretaries and caretakers nationwide are set to walk out in dispute over pensions, with 23 schools in Leitrim expected to be hit.

Leitrim schools will face staff strikes tomorrow as secretaries and caretakers from around the county are due to take part in an indefinite strike action.

More than 2600 secretaries and caretakers nationwide are set to take part in the action over their lack of access to public sector pensions and other entitlements.

Fórsa have said around 23 schools in Leitrim will be affected by the strike. They have not issued a full list of the affected schools at this time, but believe the number of participants will rise.

“We are still receiving a steady stream of sign-ups from our members and expect this number to rise as we get closer to the day of action,” Fórsa have said.

There will be combined pickets at Leitrim Village, Mixed National School (St.Joseph's), and Manorhamilton’s St. Clare's National School.

Today, members of the Fórsa trade union and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) were in talks for around three hours in an attempt to resolve the dispute before strike action begins tomorrow.

“The department has had the afternoon to consider its position, and we are due to reconvene at five. However, we do not expect their position to have changed,” a spokesperson for Fórsa has said.

Fórsa’s Head of Education, Andy Pike, told RTÉ earlier today that the union could call off tomorrow’s planned strike if meaningful progress is made in discussions. While an immediate resolution to the question of pensions is not required, he stressed that the union is seeking a clear commitment from the Government to begin the process.

In the meantime, the Department of Education has directed schools to operate as normal. However, other unions have advised their members to show solidarity with striking workers by refusing to take on the duties of school secretaries and caretakers.