Secretaries 'shocked' at break-down of pension talks
Further strike action by secretaries and caretakers possible
After talks at the Workplace Relations Commission aimed at resolving a pensions dispute ended abruptly, school secretaries and caretakers are devastated.
“I thought we were making progress, that’s what the union told us,” says Bernie Geraghty, secretary at Killygarry NS, still in disbelief. Describing how her local secretaries’ groupchat has been hopping since the news broke, she is trying to collect her thoughts: “Our first reaction was: Right, that’s it. We’re going back out on strike.”
Last September, the dispute saw more than 2,600 school secretaries and caretakers engage in strike action for more than a week impacting around 2,000 schools. Fórsa withdrew the strike action after a decision was reached to engage in a process to resolve the dispute. “We were confident once they sit at the table and talk, there will be a solution,” says Bernie. To be told out of the blue that in fact no progress had been made, was “shocking”.
“I am so upset right now.”
The workers' trade union, Fórsa, said it wants the matter to be referred to the Labour Court after their key issue of providing comparable pension benefits and recognising previous service was not met. “But how will that work out and when?” are the questions posed by Bernie, and also her colleague Susan Fay from St Felim’s: “The union hasn’t spoken to us yet, we don’t know what the process is.”
She is “absolutely livid and furious” about the talks ending with no results: “Three months in and we are nowhere!”
“We don’t have bereavement or sick leave, but a bus escort is entitled to this after three months. I’m not begrudging them, but we’re denied what the other public servants have,” says Susan, who has been a secretary for the past 26 years.
Susan’s disappointment is fuelling her determination, saying it was a mistake to stop the strike, before the issues were resolved: “I’m in favour of staying out until the agreement is reached.”
Her Killygarry counterpart is sympathetic towards the idea, but feels the can was kicked down the road on purpose: “It’s a catch 22. We’re coming up to Christmas and we need the Christmas pay.”
Some are still waiting for their strike pay from September, many simply couldn’t afford the loss this time - preventing them from striking for their fair share.
While her principal and teaching staff had been supportive all along, Bernie is worried the general backing might not be as strong as it was at the start of the school year: “People think we went back to work, because all was sorted.”
The secretaries are hoping to receive more information over the weekend.
"Our members have been extremely patient," Fórsa head of education Andy Pike said. Referring to strike action as “last resort”, Mr Pike said they are hoping to achieve a less disruptive outcome.
The Anglo-Celt will provide an update on the matter.