Cork School Secretaries and Caretakers Demand Equal Benefits

A significant protest unfolded in Cork City today, as school secretaries and caretakers rallied outside the office of the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, demanding equal treatment and pension parity. This demonstration is one of five taking place across the country, highlighting widespread discontent among these essential workers, who currently lack access to vital public service benefits.

The gathering follows a larger protest in Dublin on March 14, 2024, which saw over a thousand union members advocating for change. Participants are calling attention to their exclusion from public service pensions and critical benefits, including sick leave and bereavement leave, which are standard for many other public sector employees.

Voices of Concern

At the forefront of the Cork protest was Noreen O’Callaghan, a secretary at Watergrasshill National School with over 25 years of experience. O’Callaghan, one of the key organisers, shared distressing accounts of hardships faced by secretaries as they approach retirement age. She recounted a poignant story of a colleague who, upon her father’s death, was asked by her principal to cover the cost of a substitute teacher while being denied even a single day of bereavement leave.

O’Callaghan highlighted the struggles of another member who lost a daughter and had to return to work shortly after, while her daughter, a teacher at the same school, was granted twenty days of leave. “We have secretaries undergoing cancer treatment who drive directly to work after their sessions, saving their leave for when they are truly incapacitated. It’s a total injustice,” she stated.

The union, Forsa, has been actively engaging with members of the Dáil, presenting these concerns to a group of 64 TDs. Despite numerous letters sent to government ministers, O’Callaghan indicated that the lack of meaningful response has left them with no option but to pursue indefinite strike action.

Call for Change

The protest attracted around one hundred caretakers and secretaries, representing multiple schools in the Cork area. Among them was David O’Donoghue, a caretaker at Scoil na Croise Naofa Primary School, who has dedicated 17 years to his role. O’Donoghue expressed his concerns about the precarious nature of employment for many caretakers, stating that while he is fortunate to have full-time hours, many of his colleagues are forced to work part-time jobs just to make ends meet.

Reflecting on his own situation, O’Donoghue noted, “When I started, I was 32 and didn’t think much about pensions. Now, approaching 50, it’s a pressing concern.” He emphasised the disparity in treatment between school staff, highlighting that while teachers and principals receive essential benefits, caretakers and secretaries do not.

O’Callaghan and O’Donoghue both underscored the need for centralised contracts that would ensure equal pay and benefits. They argue that such a change would not only benefit current employees but also attract new talent to the profession, particularly as many caretakers are nearing retirement age.

The absence of adequate wages and benefits risks creating a shortage in the workforce, as current employees may seek more secure employment elsewhere. O’Donoghue articulated the situation succinctly: “We save the Government and schools thousands of euros every year by performing multiple roles. The Government needs to recognise our contributions and implement contracts that reflect our work.”

As the strike action continues, both O’Callaghan and O’Donoghue remain hopeful for a resolution that acknowledges the vital role secretaries and caretakers play in the education system. Their rallying cry for justice echoes the sentiments of many who believe that fair treatment should be a standard, not a privilege, in public service roles.