‘We’ve been left with no choice’ – Rathkeale school caretaker joins national Fórsa strikes

At St Anne’s Primary School in Rathkeale, caretaker Billy Kearns has said staff have been “left with no choice” but to strike, as part of a national campaign for pension and pay parity.

Caretakers and school secretaries across the country, represented by the Fórsa trade union, began strike action this week in a dispute over pensions, sick leave and pay equality. The action is expected to impact around 2,000 schools nationwide, including many in Limerick.

Mr Kearns took part in the strike on Monday. He was joined by teachers, SNAs, INTO representatives and the school principal, who stood with him at break times, lunchtime and after school to show their support. “There’s not one person that wants to be on the picket line. We’ve been left with no choice as the Department has not come to the table for any meaningful talks,” Mr Kearns said. “We even met with Minister McEntee in April in Galway and we haven’t seen her since.”

He added that the demand from staff is simple: “A fair resolution has been parity. All we want is to stop the discrimination against us and the inequality our colleagues don’t face. We’re looking for nothing for nothing. We’ll pay for our own pensions, that’s it, basically, what we want.”

The dispute centres on pension parity, with Fórsa saying its members are being treated as “second-class citizens” because, unlike teachers and SNAs, they do not have access to public service pensions.

Talks have taken place at the Workplace Relations Commission, but union sources have described them as “talks about talks” rather than meaningful negotiations.

Mr Kearns warned that industrial action will continue if no progress is made “The next step is an indefinite strike. We will not go back until there are meaningful talks. If that doesn’t happen, we’ll be back out again.”