Tipperary TD shows support for current school secretaries and caretakers strike

Tipperary TD Seamus Healy has spoken out about the recent secretaries and caretakers strikes in schools across Ireland, calling the situation 'inequality plain and simple'. 

Since schools have been back many secretaries and caretakers across the country have been on strike, asking the government for access to public sector pensions and other key entitlements.

Commenting on the current strike which has reached it's sixth day, Deputy Healy said: "They are striking for fairness. The States continued refusal to give them the same employment status as their colleagues, has locked out several generations already from a secure income in retirement. This is inequality plain and simple.

READ NEXT: Tipperary college campus to host celebrations for Mental Health Week

"School secretaries and caretakers are employed under identical arrangements to teachers and special needs assistants, employed by boards of management and paid by the Department of Education yet they are denied access to the public pension pay scheme, as well as the same occupational sick pay and bereavement leave schemes.

"It makes no sense and is unfair. It is time to end this needless inequality and ensure pension parity in our schools," he concluded. 

READ NEXT: Popular country singer set to perform fundraising concert in Tipperary