‘No scope for redundancies’ at largest institutes

TWO of the country’s largest institutes of technology have indicated they have little or no scope for redundancies despite Department of Education suggestions that a collapse in apprentice training could leave dozens of lecturers surplus to requirement.

The news last week that the department is gathering data from the colleges on any numbers of surplus academic staff was followed with a decision on Friday evening by the executive of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) to ballot its members on possible lifting of industrial action at schools and colleges.

The imposition of any compulsory redundancies in the public service would most likely affect TUI members as the union is still not engaged in discussions with the department about reforms proposed in the Croke Park public service pay deal. This means they could also be open to pay-cuts that are ruled out for unions signed up to the agreement.