School secretaries have overwhelmingly voted to accept a new package of pay and working conditions, which puts them all at the public service rates.
The trade union Fórsa, which negotiated the deal, said it could be significantly improved after a decades-long campaign for pay and income and paid leave arrangements for low-paid secretaries.
The new agreement will see to it that all school secretaries are transferred to a new pay scale, which is aligned with the public service officer scale.
To date, most of them have been employed directly in schools, most have earned no more than the minimum wage.
The school secretaries of Fórsa voted to accept the agreement with a wide margin, with 95% voting in favor and 5% voting against 73%.
From now on, their income will increase in line with public sector wages.
The deal also includes 22 days of paid leave per year, as well as payment for 10 public holidays.
Fórsa’s head of education, Andy Pike, said the agreement would give many employees a permanent employment contract for the first time.
“This historic agreement is a significant step forward for school secretaries who have been overseen and undervalued for so many years,” he said.
Forsa said discussions about a similar outcome for school operators would start now.
Education Minister Norma Foley and Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Michael McGrath welcomed the overwhelming support of the school secretaries deal.
“Secretaries are the beating heart of school communities and I am pleased that today’s ballot paper gives further recognition to the excellent work that is being done by school secretaries every day,” said Minister Foley.
Minister McGrath said: “I am supportive of seeing a solution to the issue for some time, in particular because of the vital services provided by secretaries across the country and the day-to-day activities of schools.”
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