Lecturers could strike if job security is threatened

COLLEGE lecturers may go on strike if Education Minister Mary Hanafin removes the job security currently available to them when she legislates for changed third-level funding structures later this year.

The minister is preparing a bill, likely to be enacted later this year, that would move the institutes of technology under the direct funding and governance of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) along with the universities.

Under existing legislation governing the institutes, staff have the right to a sworn public inquiry set up by the minister before being dismissed. But it is feared that, while this will be maintained for current employees, the same protection will not be available to those employed after the act is passed.

Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) deputy general secretary Peter McMenamin made clear yesterday that members would invoke the right to ballot for industrial action up to strike if Ms Hanafin tries to remove such public enquiries.

“We will continue to seek the same job security for future members and will defend any of them if they are under threat from the loss of this protection,” he said.

Speaking at TUI’s annual congress in Tralee, he reminded the minister that delegates had directed the union executive to ballot for action if this situation arises.

The TUI represents almost 4,000 lecturing staff in the 14 institutes of technology and has also contacted other unions whose members are employed in these colleges.

While Mr McMenamin said the move under the same body as the seven universities may provide more equitable funding for the institutes of technology sector, other concerns remained.

“We want to ensure the legislation does not remove the prescribed number of academics on the HEA board, as there are fears that it could become dominated by people from a business background,” he said.

“We are also seeking staff representation as it is unacceptable that there should be statutory representation on the HEA but none for staff,” Mr McMenamin said.