By Róise Collins

SCHOOL secretaries and caretakers across Donegal are due to begin indefinite strike action today.

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.

As we went to print yesterday, talks aimed at resolving the dispute were continuing at the Workplace Relations Commission.

More than 100 union members across the county have confirmed they will take part in the action, which begins with a rally at the Department of Public Expenditure in Dublin today.

From Monday, if no agreement has been reached, secretaries and caretakers are expected to gather for pickets outside more than 90 schools across Donegal.

Meanwhile, teachers and principals have been warned not to carry out the duties of school secretaries or caretakers during the strike.

Donegal Irish National Teachers’ Organisation representative Áine McGinley told the Donegal News that staff taking on any of those duties could undermine the Fórsa members’ industrial action.

Both unions work closely together through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Ms McGinley said they are “absolutely supportive” of the secretaries and caretaker.

“They are a huge integral part of our schools,” she said.

“No union takes industrial action lightly, the decision to take strike action in particular.

“It’s disappointing that it has got to this stage.”

She explained that members were balloted before the end of the school year, and it has taken until now for talks to commence as pressure mounted ahead of the return to school.

She is hopeful a resolution will be reached quickly so that strike action does not have to continue long term.

“We have to be cognisant that Fórsa have SNAs in our schools as well who are another huge backbone of our schools,” she added.