Minister for Education and Skills welcomes FÓRSA decision to defer industrial action and return to WRC

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Published on Monday 20th January 2020

Minister for Education and Skills welcomes FÓRSA decision to defer industrial action and return to WRC

Statement by Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD:

I welcome the decision by the FÓRSA trade union to defer strike action and to re-enter negotiations at the Workplace Relations Committee on the issue of secretaries’ employment.
I have been on record since being appointed Minister for Education and Skills on the need for deep engagement on this issue.
Secretaries and other support staff play a hugely important role in ensuring the smooth day to day running of schools and I am deeply conscious of the issues that secretaries have raised with me personally.
The Department has previously engaged with FÓRSA at the WRC and has remained open to returning to talks. I am glad that is now happening.
The best way of resolving disputes is by sitting down together and going through the issues.
“I have always maintained that the only way this situation will be resolved is with the help of the WRC. Both sides will have their own positions, but compromise is necessary or nothing would ever be resolved.