As their long-running campaign for an end to what they term the “unfair two tier set-up” continues in respect of pay, school secretaries have urged politicians to attend a meeting in Letterkenny tonight, Monday, to back their push for parity.
They claim that any school Board of Management or Principal willing to stand over a low rate of pay for dedicated secretaries or administrators should be “named and shamed.”
Kathleen O’Doherty, Letterkenny based representative on the Education Division of FORSA, said listening to repeated stories of how badly paid these particular school employees were over the past ten to fifteen years also brought shame on the Department of Education.
“Our local Education Minister Joe McHugh has the ball at his feet and hopefully he will kick it in the right direction to ensure all school secretaries are treated with respect and fairness.
“We want to put an end to the existing unfair two-tier set-up successive Governments have allowed to continue. All we want is parity and respect within a public service building. All our work is public service related, yet the Government refuse to treat us as equal to our colleagues who are employed under a 78/79 scheme. It’s bizarre to say the least,” the local representative insisted.
Pointing out that the Support our Secretaries (SOS) campaign was continuing to gain momentum, Ms O’Doherty called for a good turn out at tonight’s meeting in Letterkenny’s Radisson Hotel including a strong political presence.
“I am well aware the date is Monday following the elections. If those politicians who have been calling to my door and seeking my vote are worth their salt, they will support us on the night whether they get elected or not.”
She praised those school Principals and Board of Managements who were very supportive of the campaign for a fairer deal for school secretaries.
The FORSA representative stated: “I only wish all Principals and Boards of Management would support their secretary and help right a very wrong by putting pressure on the Department of Education.
“Any school Board of Management or Principal willing to stand over such a low pay rate of 8.65 euro minimum rate for a number of years for their dedicated secretary/administrator should be named and shamed,” claimed Ms O’Doherty.
Last November school secretaries from all over the county attended a meeting in Letterkenny held to clarify the findings of the Workers Relations Commission Arbitration.
“Although the report reads as a 10% increase for non-teaching staff which sounds good, it is well worth reading the small print. The 10% to be paid over four years at 2.5% to these workers, the majority of which are on a very low rate of pay does not equate to much of a raise. Where does decency and fairness come into this recommendation?,” the Letterkenny representative demanded.
Those in attendance at the meeting expressed their wholesale disappointment at the WRC findings after years of campaigning for a fairer deal to rectify a two tier system where some school secretaries are paid by the Department of Education on a recognised pay scale while the rest are dependant on a grant issued to the schools out of which come other expenses.
“Rates vary from school to school and almost all are paid below the scale paid to equivalent public service workers,” added the FORSA spokesperson.
The meeting in the Radisson Hotel has a starting time of 8.p.m.