Striking school secretaries and caretakers treated like second class citizens, says Cummins

Inter-party squabbling between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will do nothing to resolve the ongoing strike by school secretaries and caretakers, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins.

The Dublin South Central TD said “we are now one week into this strike, which is severely disrupting the day-to-day running of schools around the country and has the potential to impact on the education of our children – including pupils with additional needs.”

“Disgracefully, all we have seen from the government to date is the unedifying spectacle of TDs from FF and FG trying to shift responsibility for resolving the dispute onto each party’s respective line ministers in the Department of Education and Department of Public Expenditure.

Cummins said, “school secretaries and caretakers are the backbone of our schools, yet they have been treated like second-class citizens when it comes to the terms and conditions of their employment.”

“The government cannot morally stand over a two-tier discriminatory system that denies these workers the rights and entitlements enjoyed by teachers and special needs assistants, such as a public service pension and bereavement leave.

“Playing the blame game will not bring an end to this dispute. Instead of petty sniping from government TDs, we need to see every industrial relations lever used to bring about a just resolution for the striking workers.

“To prevent further escalation of this dispute, the Labour Court must now intervene to assist in the negotiations between Fórsa and the relevant government departments.

“For those on the picket line, it matters little if this involves either Education Minister Helen McEntee or Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers – or both. They just want this matter resolved so they can return to work and continue to make an invaluable contribution to our schools,” Cummins said.