Up to 8,000 non-teaching school staff in line for 10% pay rise

Almost 8,000 secretaries and caretakers in State-funded schools are set to receive pay increases of up to 10 per cent over the next four years under pay proposals likely to end a long-running pay dispute.

Unions have been seeking pay parity for some time between secretaries and caretakers directly employed by boards of management in State-funded schools and those employed by the Department of Education.

In a deal proposed in recent days, the arbitrator – Kevin Foley of the Labour Court – has recommended that secretaries and school caretakers employed by boards of management should receive four separate pay rises of 2.5 per cent between 2016 and 2019.

Under these proposals, workers would see their minimum hourly rates increase from €10.25 to €13 an hour between 2016 and 2019.

The deal, if accepted, is expected to cost €5 million next year, rising to more than €22 million in 2019.

If accepted by unions, it is understood Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan would implement the recommendation.

The trade union Impact, which represents the staff concerned, has for some time been seeking pay parity for secretaries and caretakers employed directly by boards of management with the terms and conditions of similar personnel employed by the Department of Education.

Vital role

A spokesman for the union said on Sunday it welcomed the development, which could improve the pay of some of the lowest-paid staff in the education sector who play a vital role in running schools. The proposals are due to be discussed in detail with members this week.

It is understood more than half of these non-teaching staff are paid directly by schools through an ancillary grant.

The staff concerned are in receipt of a variety of rates, but virtually all are believed to receive amounts below the common pay scales of those paid directly by the Department of Education.

In his arbitration report, Mr Foley says pay increases should not lead to any diminution in the quantum of working hours made available to any caretaker or secretary covered by the deal.

He also urges that the parties should engage further in 2019 to consider an agreement to apply from January 2020.

Side deal

The arbitration process was agreed under a side deal negotiated by the union with the Government in parallel with the recent Lansdowne Road accord on public service pay and pensions.

Under the side agreement, it was agreed the issue would be referred to a new process that involved arbitration and which would be completed by mid-September.

The Lansdowne Road talks last May were used by unions and management, in addition to the substantive issue of public service pay and pensions, as a form of clearing house to address a range of other outstanding claims and grievances.

The arbitration report proposes that the new “floor” for earnings would rise to €10.75 per hour in January 2017, while the 2.5 per cent rise for the same year would see the rate increase to €11.01 from April 2017.

Under the proposals the floor would rise again to €11.50 in January 2018 with the annual rise bringing the rate to €11.79 from the beginning of April 2018.

The report recommends that a floor of €13 per hour should be introduced from January 2019, to include the annual increase.

It is estimated the arbitration will affect between 7,500 and 8,000 people, or some 3,500 whole-time equivalents.

The costs of the pay deal are due to be met through additional funding from the Department of Public Expenditure, in the event that agreement is reached on proposals.