Union to fight pay cut for school caretakers and secretaries

AN instruction to schools to cut the pay of caretakers, secretaries and other staff not directly employed by the state is set to be challenged by a union.

IMPACT said the order sent to schools by the Department of Education on Friday was thoughtless and ridiculously harsh, and claims that around 17,000 low-paid staff will be affected.

The cuts are to be applied on the same scale as those applied to public servants from last January in last year’s budget, with those earning less than €30,000 losing 5% and higher earners cut 7.5% on the next €40,000 of salary.