College’s lecturing staff lift threat of industrial action

Lecturing staff at one of the country’s largest third-level colleges have agreed to enter further talks and have lifted a threat to some of its online courses in a dispute over workloads.

Cork Institute of Technology and Teachers’ Union of Ireland members at its campuses accepted proposals from the Labour Relations Commission, averting the industrial action that was set to begin yesterday.

The academic staff voted in April to withdraw from online teaching or development of such courses over concerns about quality and workload issues associated with widening the number of modules and courses to be delivered online. College management had claimed that those concerns were being addressed with training and with the allowance of additional time within their timetables for preparation and student support.

Conciliation talks with the LRC failed to bring agreement on Thursday, but further discussions yesterday morning brought about the resolution.

The LRC’s proposals for a suspension of the industrial action were accepted by a majority of TUI members at the college just before a lunchtime demonstration was to have started at the main campus in Bishopstown.

Further talks with management on the disputed issues are to take place under the LRC’s auspices over the coming academic year, but staff will continue to teach and develop online courses in the meantime, with time being allowed for the work involved.

“We want to engage with the technology, but there is a significant amount of extra work associated with online learning and it needs to be recognised in the timetables,” said TUI assistant general secretary Aidan Kenny.

The dispute continues as CIT and IT Tralee await the outcome of the assessment by international experts of their proposal to formally apply for technological university status. They plan to amalgamate and form the Munster Technological University, but must meet a range of strict criteria set by the Higher Education Authority.

If the decision, which is expected in November, goes in their favour, a more detailed application will have to be made before the HEA can recommend if the status upgrade should be approved.