Union joins campaign to abolish 'unfair' student service charges

The TEEU has described the student service charges on apprentices as "unfair and unaffordable".

The Technical Engineering and Electrical Union is teaming up with the Union of Students in Ireland to launch a national campaign to abolish the charges.

General Secretary of the TEEU Eamon Devoy says apprentices are among the lowest paid workers in the State and they simply cannot afford it.

3,500 apprentices attending Institutes of Technology across the country will have to pay a minimum contribution fee of €833 during their off-the-job training.

"They want us to get back to work and stop taking the dole," said Aaron, a final-year apprentice.

"Why don't they keep investing in employment programmes and apprenticeships - and these kind of tings that get us into work and into education - and into a workforce that will pay tax?"