Tyndall staff to picket over pay

Staff at Cork’s prestigious Tyndall Institute look set to strike again next month, in a long-running dispute over pay parity.

Sat, 25 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Kelly O'Brien

The institute, which is part of University College Cork, is the largest research facility of its type in Ireland and is known internationally for its research into nanotechnology and photonics.

However, researchers at Tyndall say they are being paid up to a third less than colleagues doing comparable work at the college.

The ongoing dispute with the Department of Education and the department of Public Expenditure and Reform concerns the pay inequity which exists between a large number of Tyndall staff and their UCC counterparts.

It is understood that the difference in pay is between 10% and 20%.

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While the institute, on Dyke Parade, hosts more than 460 researchers, engineers, and support staff — including a full-time postgraduate cohort of 135 students — approximately 180 staff members are affected by the pay parity claim.

Notice of industrial action was received yesterday by UCC, served by the Irish Federation of University Teachers and Siptu on behalf of their members at the Tyndall Institute.

According to UCC, the notice indicates a plan to place pickets at Tyndall on May 1, 6, and 7, and on the UCC main campus on May 13.

The two unions have more than 2,000 members between them at the college and a strike would most likely cause serious disruption.

In a statement, UCC said it recognises “this is an extremely stressful time for students” and “regrets this development at this particular time”. It said: “The university is committed to doing everything necessary to ensure that all examinations proceed normally and remains committed to the agreed process.”