USI presents student demands

THIRD-LEVEL students presented their demands for increased grants, a review of accommodation and a stronger voice on decision making bodies to politicians yesterday.

In a lobby campaign at a hotel near Leinster House, Union of Students in Ireland (USI) representatives from 50 colleges presented their 5 STAR Future agenda to members of Government and opposition parties.

They are calling for all the parties to prioritise action in five areas:

Student grants — increased funding and reform of the grants system.

Treatments and healthcare — allocation of promised medical and GP visit cards.

Accommodation — calls for a task force to review student accommodation.

Representation — improved representation of students by students in colleges and on national education bodies.

Urgent investment in the infrastructure of colleges.

USI president Colm Hamrogue said politicians were told about the critical investment needs facing third level education, as seen through the eyes of the students who experience the effects of under-funding every day.

“Students see crumbling lecture theatres, understocked libraries, and campus health centres unable to cope with the level of demand,” he said.

The union’s education officer, Bernadette Farrell, said students want to know how the parties will tackle the lack of proper student representation, and the chaotic, unfair way of assessing grants before deciding how they vote.

USI faces pressures of its own, however, after SIPTU has demanded that it pay compensation to a former worker as recommended by a Rights Commissioner last September.

SIPTU education branch organiser Chris Rowland said USI was found to have treated the employee in a grossly unfair way for a number of months.

She said USI had failed to implement the recommendation to award compensation for loss of earnings.

“Such blatant disregard for fair procedure flies in the face of statements issued by the USI demanding that employers afford workers their fundamental rights,” said Ms Rowland.

The worker was suspended without pay between June and August last year and has since left the position.

An unfair dismissal case is due to be heard by a Rights Commissioner next month.