FAQs: School secretaries and caretakers – strike action for pension parity

School secretaries and caretakers don’t have access to public service pensions, even though they go to work every day with teachers and SNAs who do.

Without school secretaries and caretakers, schools simply can’t function.

This is a campaign for equality among workers in school. We are calling for:

• Pension parity
• A single contract of employment for secretaries and caretakers
• Access to decent sick leave and bereavement leave

Over 26,000 people have signed a pledge of support for our campaign. Minister of Education Helen McEntee told us in April she supports our campaign, and so did the TDs and Senators who are members of the Oireachtas Education Committee in July.

But these are just empty words until real action happens. It is up to the Government and the Department of Public Expenditure to take action and resolve the deep injustice at the heart of education in Ireland.

There are a number of key things you should do before the strike begins.

• Complete the form issued to members detailing locations of rallies and pickets, and asking for the essential information we need to pay you strike pay.
• Attend an in-person information meeting.
• Make a plan for how to get to Dublin for the national rally on Thursday 28th August, and decide which regional rally you will go to on Friday 29^th

From Wednesday 13^th August to Tuesday 26^th August information meetings will take place across the country.

On Wednesday 27^th August an online national meeting for members will also provide all necessary information. A link for this meeting will issue to all members.

Here is a list of in -person meetings:

• Wednesday 13^th August 7pm: Galway, Fórsa Office, H91 HT27
• Wednesday 13^th August 7pm: Waterford, Viking Hotel, X91 Y657
• Thursday 14^th August 7pm: Athlone, The Bounty, N37K0T9
• Thursday 14^th August 7pm: Drogheda, Boyne Valley Hotel, A92EY89
• Monday 18^th August 7pm: Kildare, Kildare Education Centre, R51KN66
• Monday 18^th August 7pm: Sligo, Fórsa Office, F91 HHX4
• Tuesday 19^th August 7pm: Letterkenny, Clanree Hotel, F92RV10
• Tuesday 19^th August 7pm: Cork, Watergrasshill NS, T56 EW80
• Wednesday 20^th August 3pm: Cavan, Kilmore Hotel, H12F6Y7
• Wednesday 20^th August 7pm: Castlebar, Education Centre, F23HX48
• Wednesday 20^th August 7pm: Thurles, Anner Hotel, E41X789
• Thursday 21^st August 7pm: Enniscorthy, Riverside Park Hotel, Y21 T2F4
• Thursday 21^st August 7pm: Limerick, Fórsa Office, V94YY31
• Monday 25^th August 7pm: Tralee, The Rose Hotel, V92HK52
• Tuesday 26^th August 6:30pm:Dublin, Fórsa Head Office, D01TR53

There will be a national rally in Dublin, outside the offices of the Department of Public Expenditure, Merrion Square, Dublin 2 at 11am. Members are asked to arrive from 10.30am.

Buses have been organised which will bring members from locations around the country. There is a map here. Use the form to register for which bus you will take.

On Friday 29^th August there will be 5 regional rallies. You should attend the closest rally to you. These will also begin at 11am but members will need to be at the meeting points from 10.30am.

• Dublin: of Education, Marlborough St, North City, Dublin 1, D01 RC96
• Athlone: Department of Education, Lissywollen, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 TP65
• Cork: Taoiseach Constituency Office137 Evergreen Road, Turners Cross, Cork, T12 N767
• Bray: Tánaiste Constituency Office 5A Quinsborough Rd, Bray, Co. Wicklow, A98 HY48
• Sligo: Minister Marian Harkin Constituency Office, Constitutional Court, Stephen St. Sligo, F91XK07

You should picket outside your school. Picketing outside your school is the most effective way you can take part in the strike. The more schools with visible picket lines outside them, the greater the impact of the strike will be and the more likely there is to be a successful resolution of this issue.

Visibility of members on strike is essential. It is very important that parents, and school staff, see you on the picket line.

Caretakers should picket outside their school from the time at which they usually open the school.

School secretaries should picket outside their school from 8am.

You should also be on the picket line at the end of the school day, between 1pn and 3.30pm for primary schools, and up to 4.30pm for post primary schools.

It is very important that members on strike are visible to the community, so that we demonstrate strength and keep getting our message out. We know parents and the wider school communities are supportive of this campaign, we need to keep that going.

Meeting supporters when you are on the picket will give you a chance to talk to them about the issues and ask them to sign the pledge of support.

If you are not comfortable doing so, you can choose another location in your county, the form you've been sent by email lists three schools per county.

You should picket outside the constituency office of your local Government TD. There is a list in the form.

Throughout this campaign politicians from all parties and none have said they support us, but we need them to push for action! Picketing outside their offices will show them this issue won’t go away, and that their support is needed.

From then on you should picket outside your school or your alternative picket location until further notice.

There is a list of collection points in the form. You will be able to collect flyers, stickers and placards at the collection points.

‘Strike pay’ is a flat rate of pay paid to union members on strike. All members have been issued with a form asking for details needed to pay strike pay.

As per the agreement on strike pay, you will not be paid for the first 2 days of strike. You only begin to get strike pay from the third day.

You will be paid a flat rate of pay, as agreed by the National Executive Committee.

Strike pay will be €80* per day, maximum €400 per week and everyone is expected to take part in strike action by being available for picketing or union-organised protests for 5 days a week.

*Strike pay is only payable in instances where a member has been on strike (and off pay) for more than 2 continuous normal working days. For the avoidance of any doubt, a member on strike must cover 3 working days to qualify for strike pay.

Guidance for members who are SNAs will issue shortly.

Tell them why you are going on strike and ask them to sign this pledge. We are still collecting pledges to show the level of solidarity and support for our campaign. This sends a powerful message to Government.

You can also ask them to come along to a regional rally or to join you outside your school when you are picketing.

Please email educationstrike@forsa.ie and we can support you.