Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I will give Mr. Pike a chance to answer that in a second because, contrary to what the Senator just said, I believe there will be massive support from parents and communities for caretakers and secretaries. God forbid, there would be an effective strike day on the most important day of school. The work that needs to be done on that opening day by school secretaries and caretakers is key. There are papers to be processed and all of the things that have to be done. You strike while the iron is hot, to use that metaphor. The witnesses must have the patience of saints because I am finding it hard to sit here and listen to the tea and sympathy from the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Deputies and Senators. They are all saying what great work school secretaries and caretakers do. A commitment is required here today from those Deputies and Senators to go and demand of higher-ups in the political parties they represent that this will be resolved.

In regard to caretakers, when I was teaching I worked with a caretaker to build an outside garden with some of the students. He did all the woodwork. For stand up week for LGBT, it is the caretakers who put up the flags and all of that. They get involved in the life of the school. I am shocked and horrified that they are still in this position. I would have hoped it would be resolved.

The secretaries do crucial work, talking to parents, management, teachers and students. It is disgraceful that the skills that are required and the work they do have been historically undervalued. That includes the remark that they are women looking for work-life balance. That can feed into a stereotype of pin money and that kind of thing that is in people's heads. Maybe Mr. Pike could comment on this idea of causing contagion. What is the problem with contagion? These people should be public sector workers.

Is there any legal recourse that could be taken as well as the strike action? Has Fórsa looked into that? It seems highly discriminatory that there is recognition for a clerical officer but not actually pension recognition.

Lastly, because I want to give Mr. Pike a chance to answer these questions, while it is great that the Minister wants to resolve this issue, I am sure Fórsa has seen all this sympathy before. Has Fórsa considered approaching the other unions? I have been on strike as a teacher. Inter-union and picket-line solidarity has broken down over a long time. We need that kind of solidarity. Would the other unions come out and support the secretaries and the caretakers for that day? Is that something that could be looked at?