UCC concerned after Tyndall staff picket over pay

University College Cork has claimed an industrial action by staff at the Tyndall National Institute in Cork yesterday poses a “significant financial and reputational risk to what is an important regional and national asset”.

Staff at the institute mounted a picket outside their workplace yesterday over what they describe as a gap of 10%-20% between their pay and that of their colleagues in UCC.

The picket, organised by Siptu, saw 65 of its members joined in the protest by a number of colleagues from the other union at the Tyndall, the Irish Federation of University Teachers.

The Siptu members have acknowledged the gap between the pay of the two sets of workers is unlikely to be bridged before the end of the Haddington Road Agreement in 2016.

However, they want their members to be subject to the pay increments received by UCC staff so the gap does not grow any wider.

The union claims the Department of Education will not even discuss that.

The Labour Relations Commission previously said the parties should “enter talks on terms of reference for the purpose of commencing an internal evaluation exercise to establish the correct rate of pay for the employees of all grades within the Tyndall Institute”.

According to UCC, those terms were concluded in two meetings last week.

“Despite finalising the terms of reference for the job evaluation exercise on Jan 17, overall agreement could not be reached by the parties on the union position regarding the timing and manner of implementation of any outcome of the job evaluation and the talks were adjourned,” a university statement said.

“The university greatly values its staff and acknowledges that there should be no disparity of treatment between staff in Tyndall and staff within the university.

“However, resolution of any such disparity must also be in accordance with and have regard to the current legislation governing public pay policy and the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement.

“The university regrets the taking of industrial action, which will pose significant financial and reputational risk to what is an important regional and national asset.”

Siptu said yesterday’s action is likely to be followed by non-cooperation by staff with certain functions in the Tyndall at certain times in the following days.

Further stoppages are also likely.

Siptu added that if the situation is not addressed, there is likely to be a ballot of the 800 union members in UCC for supportive industrial action.