{"id":30614,"date":"2022-05-21T13:51:28","date_gmt":"2022-05-21T13:51:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2022\/05\/21\/school-secretaries-accept-new-pay-structure\/"},"modified":"2022-05-21T13:51:28","modified_gmt":"2022-05-21T13:51:28","slug":"school-secretaries-accept-new-pay-structure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2022\/05\/21\/school-secretaries-accept-new-pay-structure\/","title":{"rendered":"School secretaries accept new pay structure"},"content":{"rendered":"
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School secretaries have overwhelmingly voted to accept a new package of pay and working conditions, which puts them all at the public service rates.<\/p>\n

The trade union F\u00f3rsa, 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

To date, most of them have been employed directly in schools, most have earned no more than the minimum wage.<\/p>\n

The school secretaries of F\u00f3rsa voted to accept the agreement with a wide margin, with 95% voting in favor and 5% voting against 73%.<\/p>\n

From now on, their income will increase in line with public sector wages.<\/p>\n

The deal also includes 22 days of paid leave per year, as well as payment for 10 public holidays.<\/p>\n

F\u00f3rsa’s head of education, Andy Pike, said the agreement would give many employees a permanent employment contract for the first time.<\/p>\n

“This historic agreement is a significant step forward for school secretaries who have been overseen and undervalued for so many years,” he said.<\/p>\n

Forsa said discussions about a similar outcome for school operators would start now.<\/p>\n

Education Minister Norma Foley and Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Michael McGrath welcomed the overwhelming support of the school secretaries deal.<\/p>\n

“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. <\/p>\n

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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n