Ireland faces new school strike threat after breakdown in talks

Mohan Sinha
25 Nov 2025, 17:19 GMT+10

Fórsa has warned that more strikes may happen after talks over pensions for school secretaries and caretakers collapsed at the Workplace Relations Commission on November 20
The union says the Department of Education failed to seriously consider its proposals, including demands for recognition of earlier service
More than 2,000 secretaries and caretakers already staged an eight-day strike at the start of the school year over public service entitlements

DUBLIN, Ireland: Fórsa has warned that more strikes may happen after talks over pensions for school secretaries and caretakers collapsed at the Workplace Relations Commission on November 20.

The union says the Department of Education failed to seriously consider its proposals, including demands for recognition of earlier service.

More than 2,000 secretaries and caretakers already staged an eight-day strike at the start of the school year over public service entitlements.

Fórsa's head of education, Andy Pike, said any deal must include proper credit for past service. Without that, he said, many long-serving staff could lose significant pension benefits.

He said the lack of a meaningful proposal from the department has stalled the process and that members remain determined to secure a fair agreement. Further industrial action, he said, "cannot and will not be ruled out."

The union will now refer the dispute to the Labour Court.

Labour's education spokesperson, Eoghan Kenny, said the collapse in talks is troubling and that staff have already waited too long for a fair pension plan. He called on government ministers to step in immediately and restart negotiations, saying industrial action must be avoided.

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