Divisions

FAQs – Ballot on pension parity for school secretaries and caretakers

Please note this is a live document and will be updated as further FAQs arise.

Last updated: 13th May 2025

You will be asked to vote in favour of or against indefinite strike action.

Caretakers and secretaries (who are members of Fórsa) are voting on whether to take strike action designed to help secure access to full public sector worker status.

Being a Public Sector worker will put both grades on par with the Teachers and SNAs they work with every day. In a practical sense it will mean that you will have access to:

  • Public sector pensions,
  • A single standard contract of employment for all, Caretakers and Secretaries, these will make the roles clear and responsibilities understood by both management and staff,
  • Set terms and conditions,
  • Set pay scales and
  • The protections that come to public sector workers.

If after a ballot is passed and strike action is required a detailed picketing plan will be discussed with an agreed by your branch committees.

This action may involve secretaries and caretakers coming together in communities picketing selected locations collectively and some picketing of individual schools.

Fórsa's national executive will meet on May 20th and a formal decision will be made on strike pay for Caretakers and Secretaries at that time.

If a strike is required Fórsa will be looking for full support from other unions and staff groups who work in schools, i.e. Teachers & SNAs

• Go to any workplace information meetings.
• Encourage your colleagues to participate also.
• Ensure you cast your vote as early as possible.
• As your colleagues who aren’t in the union yet to join Fórsa.

If you are eligible to vote you will receive an email with a link to Mi-Voice, our secure voting platform, along with your unique voting code.

The Education Divisional Executive Committee which represents all our members in the education sector has met to consider this issue and is unanimously recommending that you vote Yes for strike action.

You can email edhelp@forsa.ie with any questions you have about the ballot, how to vote, and what the campaign is about.

Make your voice heard, only union members have a say! Join Fórsa and stand with your colleagues today!