Fórsa has initiated a ballot for school secretaries aiming to secure their inclusion in a public service pension scheme. Despite joining the centralized payroll in 2023 and a landmark agreement that improved their pay and conditions, school secretaries still lack pension provisions, which union officials argue is necessary for full equality. Fórsa's head of education, Andy Pike, emphasized the critical role school secretaries play in schools and called for a fair resolution, urging the Department of Education to reassess their status within the pension scheme.
Andy Pike, Forsa's head of education, said a union agreement with the department in 2023 successfully standardised pay and conditions for school secretaries, ending years of disparity in pay, contracts, and job security. "It was a landmark agreement, marking a major step forward in recognising the critical role of school secretaries in our education system," he said.
He said pension justice is an inseparable part of the process of regularising school secretaries into Department of Education employment. Mr Pike said they must be afforded the same pension entitlements as other public service workers.
That school secretaries remain excluded from the public service pension scheme undermines the progress already made. He said the ballot reflects members' determination to see the process through to its conclusion.
A fair and equitable resolution must be reached. School secretaries deserve to be treated in the same way as other public service workers under the department.
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