Academic staff at technological universities to vote on industrial action

Academic staff at the country’s technological universities (TUs) are to be balloted for industrial action which could see lecturers striking over a dispute with the Department of Higher Education.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) said it will ballot more than 4,600 members in the TU sector next week over what it describes as “non-adherence by management to a collective agreement” which concerned the establishment of TUs.

The Department of Higher Education said the dispute centres on the Government’s decision to create a senior management team in TUs that “reflects their position in the third-level sector”.

However, while the TUI acknowledged that there was a problem to do with a pay difference between managerial grades at TU Dublin and posts at other TUs, it said the dispute is about protecting parity of esteem across the sector.

In 2017, TUI members in the sector voted to accept the collective agreement but the union’s leadership now says the Department has “deliberately and consistently” frustrated the proper functioning of industrial relations mechanisms at third level.

The union said the agreement provided for retention of the sector and for prior meaningful communication, consultation and negotiation with the TUI on relevant matters.

The union said the Department has allowed for the creation of new roles without negotiation with TUI.

It said the deal also specifically provides for a national review of lecturing.

TUI president David Waters accused the department of a “cynical attempt to dismantle” parity of esteem across the sector by not adhering to the agreement.

He said there was an attempt to “force through a desire to have each TU free to operate separately, without regard or recourse to national negotiation”.

“There must be parity of esteem across the sector and in this regard any regional variations in terms of pay and conditions are unacceptable,” he said.

Mr Waters said the TUI is determined that the TU sector will continue to have nationally agreed terms and conditions for all the grades represented by the union as well as any proposed new grades.

The Department does not accept it has breached the May 2017 or any other agreement, according to a spokesman.

It said it has engaged consistently with the TUI on the reform of the TU sector through the appropriate forums.

The spokesman added: “The Department has not received any formal notification or explanation of the TUI’s particular concerns, and this is extremely disappointing.”

Speaking to RTE radio, higher education minister Simon Harris said: “I look forward to them issuing the grounds of their concern to my Department in writing, so that we can immediately engage in relation to this matter, I think that’s an important way to engage in industrial relations.

“My understanding is this relates to a very small number of managerial posts in our technological universities and I think engagement with my Department will be very helpful.”

TUI general secretary Michael Gillespie said the union had outlined its concerns to the Department before Christmas and that the union is now waiting for the result of the ballot.

Mr Gillespie said the dispute is about protecting a successful sector and preserving the academic strength and regional focus of TUs.

Results of the ballot on industrial action, up to and including strike action, are expected next week.