Technology University academic staff to protest today over ‘unacceptable’ variance in pay and conditions

The protests will take place at TUs around the country, and service to students will not be affected.

Teachers’ Union of Ireland general secretary Michael Gillespie

Cian Ó Broin

Members of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) are protesting today over what they say is an “unacceptable” regional variance in pay and conditions within the Technology University (TU) sector.

At lunchtime this Tuesday, third level members of the TUI will hold protests over the non-adherence by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) to a collective agreement on the establishment of the Technological University sector.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - February 20th

The protests will take place at TUs around the country, and service to students will not be affected.

The TUI has said that there can be “no regional variations in pay or conditions in the sector” in which 4,600 academic staff are represented.

TUI general secretary Michael Gillespie explained that in 2017, TUI members at third level voted in a national ballot to accept a collective agreement concerning the establishment of TUs.

The agreement provided for retention of the sector, previously the Institute of Technology sector and thenceforth the Technological University sector – and for prior meaningful communication, consultation and, where appropriate, negotiation with the TUI on relevant matters, he said.

“Regrettably, DFHERIS and management have not adhered to this collective agreement, deliberately and consistently frustrating the proper functioning of the third level industrial relations fora.

"TUI has described the department’s approach as an attempt to have each TU free to operate separately, without regard or recourse to national negotiation. This is a clear and wholly unacceptable breach of a collective agreement accepted in good faith by our members,” he added.

Mr Gillespie described the level of engagement from the Department as “extremely disappointing”.

“Should the Department continue to refuse to engage properly with us, the union already has a strong mandate for a campaign of industrial action, up to and including strike action on this critical issue,” Mr Gillespie added.

This follows a national ballot of members that took place last month in which 92pc of members polled voted to take industrial action as directed by the Union’s Executive Committee.

Mr Gillespie added that the TUI are urging DFHERIS to “engage meaningfully with us on these key issues”.