McEntee ‘disappointed’ Fórsa did not re-enter talks

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

It is “disappointing” that a union representing striking school caretakers and secretaries has declined to re-enter talks to resolve a dispute over entitlements, the Education Minister has said.

Minister Helen McEntee said the Government is ready to engage with the union through the Workplace Relations Commission, but said it was her view that the dispute could only be resolved by entering into talks “without preconditions”.

The Fórsa union said it had a lack of trust in the Department that would lead to it suspending the indefinite strike action, which began last week, and re-entering talks.

The striking workers are campaigning for 2,600 school staff to be included in the public service pension scheme and other entitlements.

The industrial action began as thousands of schools prepared for the start of the new academic year.

Ms McEntee said she wants to see an agreement, adding that she believes more progress can be made through industrial relations mechanisms.

The minister said she believes that she is at a point where “meaningful progress” can be made, following engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure.

She told RTÉ radio on Friday: “I fully value and believe in the work that our secretaries and our caretakers do. They are invaluable in our schools, and we’ve made progress on their behalf in recent years, in particular in the last Government, improving terms and conditions.”

She called on Fórsa to “reconsider” and “come to the table”.

Fórsa’s position is that there is currently “insufficient information available” to indicate any future talks would be about how and when secretaries and caretakers can be integrated into the public service pension scheme.

It believes that it would need to suspend strike action for a WRC process to begin.

Asked about the union’s stance, Ms McEntee said: “Government is willing to sit down on all of these matters without any preconditions, but that has to then be reciprocated.”

She added: “Obviously, I would prefer to see strike action called off if that is happening. But then again, I’m saying we’re not asking for preconditions.”

Pressed on whether she had a cost for providing the striking workers with access to the public service pension scheme, Ms McEntee said she would not negotiate the matter on the airwaves

Earlier in the week, some Fianna Fáil backbenchers criticised Ms McEntee’s handling of the issue.

Malcolm Byrne, a TD for Wicklow–Wexford, told reporters: “There is a need for a much more hands-on approach from Helen McEntee to try to resolve that dispute.”

Earlier in the week, Ms McEntee’s party colleague and super junior minister Hildegarde Naughton expressed support for caretakers and secretaries.

Speaking before Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, she told reporters that the Government needs “to tackle” the issue.

Ms Naughton, a former teacher, added: “I can’t understand why school secretaries and caretakers are not treated like other staff members within the school setting.

“They play an absolutely pivotal role. We can see that when they’re not now present in schools across the country.

“So I certainly would like the message to go out to them that this is something that has to be addressed by Government”.