School Secretaries And Caretakers Set To Strike As Talks Stall

Wednesday, 27 August 2025 15:54

By Martin Osborne

Discussions are paused for now, and the union has been asked to remain available for further talks this evening.

There has been no agreement in talks aimed at averting strike action with school secretaries and caretakers.

Trade union Forsa has been meeting with the Department of Education at the Workplace Relations Commission.

The union is seeking to improve their access to public service pensions and other entitlements.

Discussions are paused for now, and the union has been asked to remain available for further talks this evening.

Speaking to Kfm recently, Esther Luttrell, secretary at St Colman's National School in Stradbally, said secretaries continue to be denied basic entitlements such as bereavement leave, critical illness leave, and access to a pension - regardless of their length of service.

According to Andy Pike, Head of Education at Forsa, the strike remains set to go ahead tomorrow.

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