Unequal pay upheld under Croke Park deal
The Tyndall National Institute at UCC was established in 2004. It has over 420 researchers and receives €32m in annual research funding. The centre was the last port of call for Queen Elizabeth II on her four-day visit to Ireland last year.
Members of Siptu and the Irish Federation of University Teachers had lodged a pay claim seeking parity with their colleagues at UCC.
However, the Labour Court rejected the claim, saying it is precluded by the Croke Park agreement.
In its submission to the court, UCC rejected the claim, stating that “this cost increasing claim would have serious financial consequences for the university”.
UCC and the Department of Education accepted that the claimants employed at the institute are employees of UCC and accepted that there should be no disparity in pay between the two parts of the university where work is of equal value.
However, the Labour Court pointed out that no cost-increasing claims can be made during the Croke Park agreement to 2014 and, as a result, cannot recommend concession of the claim.
Yesterday, Siptu official Bill Mulcahy said that the union “is unhappy with the outcome on the pay issue as the inequity is unresolved”.
However, Mr Mulcahy said he is pleased that UCC and the department have formally accepted that Tyndall staff are UCC staff.
“The Labour Court, UCC and the department have recognised the pay inequity and accepted that they cannot stand over such an inequity and that the matter must be resolved.”
IFUT general secretary Mike Jennings said yesterday: “I am disappointed, but it isn’t all bad, as the pay inequity has been recognised and it has also been recognised that Tyndall employee are staff members at UCC.”
Mr Jennings said IFUT will examine ways to address the injustice of Tyndall employees being paid less than their UCC counterparts.
Siptu has more than 50 members at the institute, with IFUT representing 30 members.
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