Teachers back one-day strike action in music school row

TEACHING staff at the Waterford Institute of Technology have voted in favour of a one-day strike in the ongoing dispute over management plans to downgrade its music school.

The vote for strike action was carried by a majority of 88% following a ballot of the 400 staff in all faculties of the four-campus college.

However, while the branch waits on approval for strike action from the TUI’s executive council, local secretary Colm Long has expressed hope that the matter could be resolved without recourse to industrial action.

“There is a window of opportunity so we are seeking an urgent meeting with management to see if we can come to an arrangement to resolve this. We’ve never been outside the gate in 34 years of good industrial relations, and while no one wants to go on strike we have to protect our members’ jobs,” he said.

The TUI has 32 staff employed in the school of music. They staff are opposed to cost-cutting plans introduced at the school at the start of this academic year.

Management insists the music school in running at a 500,000 deficit, and has introduced a 20% increase in fees and placed a freeze on any new enrolments.

“If this continues the school will be closed within four or five years by default,” Mr Long said.

Management of the WIT has been formally advised of the intention to serve strike notice, but has yet to respond.