The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) stands in unwavering solidarity with the school secretaries and caretakers represented by Fórsa as they commence indefinite strike action on Thursday, 28th August.

This strike arises from the ongoing denial of access to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme for secretaries and caretakers—despite the fact that they work in the same schools, under the same management, and on the same payroll system as teachers and Special Needs Assistants. Their exclusion from this scheme, and from other basic employment entitlements, is unjust and indefensible.

This matter could and should have been resolved long before now. For school secretaries and caretakers to be forced into indefinite strike action at the start of the new academic year is regrettable and wholly unnecessary. Let me be clear: these staff are not “second-class” employees. They are integral to the delivery of education, and they deserve the same pension rights, occupational sick pay, and bereavement leave as their colleagues across the public sector.

IFUT has always stood for a publicly funded education system underpinned by fair and equitable terms and conditions for all who work within it. Today, we reiterate that principle and urge an immediate resolution that recognises the essential contribution of school secretaries and caretakers.