Fórsa school secretaries and caretakers’ representatives concluded an intensive round of negotiations at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in the early hours of yesterday (Wednesday 2nd September).
The WRC proposals address the union’s remaining claims in respect of school secretaries and school caretakers.
The proposals were presented to members of Fórsa’s School Secretaries and School Caretakers branch committees last night (Wednesday) and have since been circulated to the wider membership.
- Key elements of the proposals include:
- Implementation of the Labour Court recommendation on pension lump sums and gratuity payments.
- A commitment to move all caretakers to a central payroll shared service operated by the Department of Education, and measures to move school caretakers pay rates to a scale aligned with the existing scale for ETB caretakers on a pro rata basis, based on a 39-hour week.
- The implementation of the caretakers’ pay structure from March 2027, including agreed assimilation points for those with more than 10 and 20 years’ service.
- Backdating of pay to March 2026, aligning with the retrospection applied to school secretaries under their previous agreement.
- Relevant increases to public service pay will also be reflected in the school caretaker pay scale.
- An allocation of 22 days’ annual leave will apply to caretakers on a pro rata basis.
- Paid sick leave for 10 days will apply to caretakers, mirroring the arrangements in place for school secretaries, based on a calendar year.
- Acute illness scheme: Provision of 60 days’ sick leave at full pay for acute illness, followed by a maximum of 60 days’ sick leave at half pay in a rolling one-year period for both secretaries and caretakers.
- Introduction of paid bereavement leave, effective from 1st November 2026, including:
- 10 days for the loss of an immediate family member (spouse or child)
- Three days for the loss of a close family member (including parent or sibling)
In July, Fórsa had welcomed a significant Labour Court recommendation on pension arrangements for school secretaries and caretakers, which it described as “a major step towards addressing a long-standing inequity affecting thousands of workers.”
Commenting on the proposals, Fórsa’s Head of Education Andy Pike said: “The strike action by school secretaries and caretakers was suspended almost exactly a year ago on the basis that negotiations would take place to deliver comparable pension entitlements, improved sick leave, bereavement leave and a new pay structure for caretakers.
“Those negotiations proved to be extremely challenging and difficult. Throughout the lengthy process our branch officers demonstrated real leadership and determination to see things through to a conclusion for the benefit of members.
“The final set of proposals represents the outcome of numerous engagements at the WRC and several Labour Court hearings over the past 12 months. The pension gratuity, including lump sum payments, provides recognition of the value of the work carried out by secretaries and caretakers over many years.
“For the first time members will be able to avail of bereavement leave. Secretaries and caretakers with an acute or serious illness will be provided with a maximum of 120 days paid sick leave.
“School caretakers will now transfer to the public service pay-scale, with fast accrual assimilation up the scale for long-serving members and a mechanism allowing them to annualise salaries over 12 months, without having to sign on for social protection payments during weeks of school closure.
“These proposals will significantly improve terms and conditions for school secretaries and caretakers and demonstrate the value of members acting together in solidarity to fight for better pay and conditions including pension provision. I look forward to meeting members to discuss the proposals during the consultation period ahead,” he said.
Mr Pike added that the conclusion of talks this week creates an opportunity for school secretaries and caretakers to fully assess the pensions recommendation, and the outcomes of the other claims, and to express their views in a union ballot.
He said details of the ballot process, along with a schedule of information meetings to be held nationwide, will be communicated to members in the coming days.
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