Nearly a week into indefinite strike action, Galway’s school secretaries and caretakers are more determined than ever to secure equal treatment and pension inclusion for the 2,600 staff affected nationwide.
Fórsa trade union has described their exclusion from the public service pension scheme and other entitlements as “deliberate and indefensible.” That exclusion prompted last week’s overwhelming 98 per cent vote in favour of strike action.
On Tuesday, around 25 school secretaries and caretakers gathered outside Fine Gael TD Albert Dolan’s office in Loughrea. Waving signs for pension parity, they were joined by Laurie and Thierry, teachers who had travelled from France to Galway to march in solidarity.
“He is very supportive, but what we need from Albert is for him to sign on the dotted line and get this over into the labour court,” explained Gort Community School secretary and vice chair and treasurer for Fórsa’s school secretaries branch, Rena McGrath. “We need him now as the TD for this area to support us because the last place we want to be is here. We want to be in school.”
Leading the demonstration was Luisa Carty, chair of Fórsa’s school secretaries branch and secretary at Ballymana National School, Craughwell.
“For me, this is about looking to the future. When I retire from my job, whenever I do, I want to not have to worry about having enough money to survive on and not being forced to, after how many years of service, live on the state pension.
“I have already given 20 years of my life to this job, and I will likely give 30 more, but while working in a public job, in a public building as part of a public service, I do not have the entitlements that people doing the same job as me receive.
“At the end of the day, it is about fairness, equality and a just cause.”
Unequal treatment
While secretaries in ETB (Education and Training Board ) schools enjoy full public service status and pensions, those once paid through the Ancillary Services Grant lack even the most basic entitlements.
For Portumna Community School secretary Mary Mitchell, that inequality is especially stark. She works in the same role as colleagues with public servant status but without the same benefits.
“I am very disappointed. I have received very little support during my fight for equality. I am disappointed in my school,” she said. Though grateful for Fórsa’s support, she added: “My colleagues have their pension, and bereavement leave and everything else, and I am just looking for equality. I just wanted to be treated the same.”
‘Shocking’ government silence
Craughwell National School secretary Brenda McGregor said the lack of response from the Government and the Department of Education has been particularly galling.
“The silence from the Government is absolutely shocking, and it is further indicative of the lack of respect that is afforded to school secretaries and caretakers. I just cannot believe it. It is just so rude.”
She also criticised dismissive comments online.
“The support from the public has been good, but I have come across some comments online saying ‘Well, you knew what the terms and conditions were when you started’, and I have to say, I started in the role when I was 20 years old. Since then, my role has changed and expanded over the years, along with my skillset. But none of that is recognised, and school secretaries are just fed up at this stage.
“It is not solely about the money; it is about basic rights. Rights that should be afforded to anyone. Any man or woman who has cancer should be allowed to get treatment. I think things like bereavement leave should not be negotiable; it definitely shouldn’t be a favour granted to you by a principal.”
Second-class citizens
At Gaelscoil Riabhach, secretary Helen Bullock and caretaker Gabriel Hesan said strike action is about raising awareness as much as driving change.
“It is about equality. We are second-class citizens in our school,” said Bullock, pointing to inferior sick leave cover compared to teachers. “It is as if my illness is valued as less than others.”
Hesan, who previously worked in construction and carpentry, admitted he only became aware of the inequality after Bullock explained it.
“I had no idea of the unfairness of the system until Helen highlighted it to me and I realised everything was wrong,” he said. “It is an honour for me to get out here and strike alongside my comrades. Everybody should be out. Teachers should be supporting us as well.”
Support from school leadership
Carrabane National School principal Gerry Murray visited the picket in Loughrea to show solidarity.
“The reality here is that there is an issue of inequality, and it is unacceptable for such a tiny cohort of employees to not have basic benefits that should be attached to their employment.
“There is no doubt that it is having a significant negative impact on our schools as each day goes on. It is causing more difficulties and I worry about the repercussions if the Government don’t resolve this issue in a timely fashion.”
‘We are not insignificant’
Secretaries at The Bish (St Joseph’s College ), Rosaleen Burke and Ciara Stapleton, admitted their disappointment that talks over parity had ended in strike action.
“I don’t want to be out on strike; I want to be in school right now. I am disappointed,” said Stapleton.
“It is really, really disappointing,” echoed Burke. “It is as if the Government is waiting us out as long as they can to cripple us more, make us wait until we are really struggling.
“They are trying to make us feel insignificant, and we are not insignificant.”
“If one of the kids did this, you would call it bullying,” added McGregor.
Political pressure
Following reports of at least one school closure, Sinn Féin TD Louis O’Hara highlighted the disruption.
“This is causing serious disruption within our schools; essential tasks are not being completed while some schools, such as Gort Community School, are operating with reduced capacity, with some children being asked to stay at home. There is increasing frustration among parents and school staff that this situation appears to be dragging on indefinitely.”
He criticised the Government’s inaction.
“Government’s failure to engage constructively is just more disrespect being shown to these workers. It is recklessly irresponsible for them to leave schools in this position and fail to engage with these workers. They had all summer to engage constructively, and now, one week into the strike, they still refuse to do so.”
