Leitrim County Council backs striking school staff in fight for equal entitlements
School secretaries and caretakers represented by the Fórsa trade union have entered their fifth day of indefinite strike action over pay and pension entitlements.
Over 2,600 school caretakers and secretaries are engaging in an indefinite strike to pursue public service pensions and entitlements enjoyed by other school staff, such as teachers and Special Needs Assistants.
In light of the indefinite strikes, Cllr Brendan Barry proposed a motion that Leitrim County Council call on the Government and Minister Helen McEntee to ensure school secretaries and caretakers can return to work with a fair, equal, and adequate pay and pension agreement that recognises “the hard work these essential staff provide to our schools right across the state.”
“It’s inevitable that a solution is going to have to be found, and I’m asking the Department and the Minister to move much quicker to try to resolve this issue,” said Cllr Barry.
He noted that the longer strikes go on, the more it will affect children’s lives at schools.
Acknowledging that the thousands who are striking are “vital to the running of the school,” he highlighted that the caretakers and secretaries are seeking the same protections and entitlements as all other staff in the school with whom they work alongside.
The motion was unanimously supported by all members of Leitrim County Council.
“Caretakers and secretaries are forgotten people within our community; they’re an important cog in the wheel to make sure everything runs smoothly,” commented Cllr Gary Prior.