By Róise Collins

SCHOOL secretaries and caretakers will today start their sixth day of indefinite strike action.

The strike, led by Fórsa trade union members, demands an end to the exclusion of school secretaries and caretakers from the public service pension scheme and related entitlements.

On Tuesday, more than 100 union members across the county gathered at TD constituency offices around Donegal.

The trade union have not had any engagement from the government since their talks at the Workplace Relations Commission failed last week.

“That’s the problem – it’s been silent,” said Bridgetta Brogan, the secretary at Lurgybrack National School, who has positioned herself as a voice for the campaign in Donegal.

She was a part of the large crowd of secretaries and caretakers, armed with placards and posters, who lined the road outside Charlie McConalogue’s office in the Market Square, Letterkenny.

Ms Brogan said they are “really disappointed” with the lack of engagement from the government, particularly the Minister for Education, Helen McEntee.

“We are a small number and we aren’t asking for that much.

“We really want to get our pensions and leave entitlements just the same as every other public servant.”

Speaking from personal experience working in the public service, Ms Brogan explained how they do the same work as public servants.

“I’m not doing any less work in this job as I have done in previous jobs so I don’t understand why this has not been brought over the line,” she stressed.

“It’s time to cut this two-tiered system down.”

Retired school secretary Kathleen O’Doherty stood with current Scoil Cholmcille secretary Mary Cannon.

Ms Brogan spoke warmly of the huge outpouring of support they have received from teachers, principals, SNAs, parents and students.

“They’re all behind us. They all want us to get what we are entitled to.”

Today the indefinite strike action continues, because despite the considerable noise made by school secretaries and caretakers and support offered from local TD’s, the government remains silent.

“We are just going to carry on until we get what we want and we are very determined,” said Ms Brogan.

Also joining the picket was Johnny Thompson, a caretaker from St Mary’s National School in Stranorlar, who works as a training officer with Fórsa trade union.

He also spoke of the strong support from the wider school community where he has been embedded for almost 20 years.

“Everybody is behind us, I don’t think there is anybody that’s not behind us”.

Mr Thompson said their fate now lies with the Department of Public Expenditure and the Department of Education.

“But when you hear them talking it is like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing – one is blaming the other.”

Liffey McKinney, Isobelle Reed, Juin Smyth, Heather McCarthy, Dolores McCabe and Lynn Robinson.

Mr Thompson said that the deal they require would cost around €35 million, which is not a big ask when you consider the Department of Education’s annual budget of €12 billion.

“They’re dragging their heels, yet they could come in and spend €9 million on phone pouches.”

Mr Thompson is also prepared to strike until they secure equal treatment and pension inclusion.

“We are here and were not going to give up the fight. We are going to stay out as long as we have to.”

Stood in solidarity with the school staff was Kathleen O’Doherty, a retired school secretary and driving force behind the current campaign.

Ms O’Doherty worked as a secretary in Scoil Cholmcille in Letterkenny and Scoil Naomh Fiachra in Illistrin. She retired two years ago.

“After giving 26 years dedication to the Department of Education in the school that I loved, I am away without a pension and we are on one household income of a contributory pension,”

She warned that this is the reality for those stood on the picket line beside her.

“Unless you have any other income this is what you’re left with after giving all those years of dedicated service.”

“They don’t want parity with teachers, prinicpals or SNA’s. They want parity with the fact that their working as public service staff all these years and are being denied equal access.”

As long-serving member of the trade union, Ms O’Doherty has been fighting for pay and pension parity for decades.

“It’s crazy to think that in 2025 the same issue is being fought,” said Ms O’Doherty.

Back in 2008 in her role as a union rep Ms O’Doherty addressed a government education committee, where she highlighted the inequality school secretaries and caretakers faced:

“I want us to be recognised for the valuable work we do.”

“The job is endless and there are not enough hours in the day to do it…The Department of Education and Science should be ashamed to let this go on any further.

“We are valuable to the school community and we should be looked after better,” said Ms O’Doherty.

It is stark that the words she spoke almost 20 years ago still ring true today.