Colleges’ ‘economic value cut’ say striking lecturers and researchers

The undermining of the contributions made by institutes of technology to society and to the economy was blamed for yesterday’s strike by 4,000 lecturers and researchers.

The 14 ITs were picketed by members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI), following a ballot in December backing the industrial action.

TUI president Gerry Quinn said the move was not taken lightly, but several years of budgetary cuts meant students had larger class sizes, and reduced access to labs, equipment, libraries and tutorials.