Striking Tipperary school staff picket office of Fianna Fail Chief Whip

The union representing striking Tipperary  teachers and secetaries,Fórsa, has called on the Government to act decisively as the union confirmed that more than half of Government TDs have publicly expressed support for the workers’ campaign.

The strike is affecting over 70 schools in the county and 100 staff members, some of whom brought the picket to outside the offices of Fianna Fail Chief Whip Mary Butler in Dungarvan on Friday.

The strike, now in its seventh day, has seen some 2,800 school secretaries and caretakers withdraw their labour from around 2,300 schools nationwide. Growing disruption has left many schools struggling to operate, with essential payroll and attendance systems unprocessed and basic services such as refuse collection halted.

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Despite the mounting effects of the strike action, the union said there has been no approach from the Department of Education or the Department of Public Expenditure to enter talks aimed at resolving the dispute.

The escalation in political support has seen more than half of Government representatives, including three Cabinet members, now backing the workers’ claim. This follows a joint statement from the country’s three teacher unions (ASTI, INTO and TUI) this morning, urging the Government to “end the impasse by entering meaningful negotiations as a matter of urgency.”

Fórsa’s head of education, Andy Pike, said the Government could no longer ignore the growing consensus across the education sector and within its own ranks: “When more than half of Government TDs, three Cabinet ministers, and the teacher unions representing every school in the country are telling you the same thing, it’s time to listen. The Government must move from silence to action, and open meaningful negotiations to resolve this dispute.”

He said the strike is the direct result of the Government’s refusal to treat school secretaries and caretakers equally, despite their essential role in the education system: “In every ETB-run school, secretaries and caretakers are public servants with full pension, sick pay and leave entitlements. Yet in thousands of other schools, staff doing identical work are excluded from these basic provisions.

"This exclusion is unfair, indefensible, and it can be remedied. But we need a proper engagement, and an agreement as to how, and when, school secretaries and caretakers will be integrated into the single public service scheme and other employment conditions,” he said.

The joint statement by teaching unions described the current situation as “unsustainable” and that schools cannot function indefinitely without these vital staff.

Luisa Carty, chair of the Fórsa School Secretaries branch, said members remain committed to their school communities and want to return to work: “Our members are not seeking exceptional treatment. They are seeking fairness, access to the same pensions and entitlements as their colleagues in the public service.

“The Government’s silence is eroding confidence across the education community that it is serious about ending this strike. It is time for Ministers McEntee and Chambers to act, and to bring the Departments of Education and Public Expenditure to the table,” she said.

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Fórsa said the strike will continue until meaningful talks take place, and an agreement secured on how, and when, school secretaries and caretakers will be integrated into the single public service scheme. Mr Pike said the political and education-sector consensus leaves the Government with no credible reason for further delay.