University staff across Ireland to stage one-hour work stoppage in pay dispute

At many campuses, members will gather in prominent public locations during Monday’s stoppage to discuss the dispute and demonstrate their support for the action. File picture

University staff across Ireland will withdraw their labour for one hour on Monday in the first industrial action in the current public service pay dispute.

Members of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) will stop work from 12pm to 1pm at participating universities and higher education institutions.

The union has also planned 24-hour strikes for October 14 and October 21 if the dispute is not resolved.

The action follows a ballot in which 93% of IFUT members voted in favour of industrial action.

At many campuses, members will gather in prominent public locations during Monday’s stoppage to discuss the dispute and demonstrate their support for the action.

Pay and working conditions

IFUT said the Government had failed to put forward a credible pay proposal capable of protecting public service workers' living standards.

The union is also seeking progress on outstanding local bargaining claims and opposing unilateral changes to working practices, the organisation of work and workplace structures without union agreement.

The stoppage will take place on World Teachers’ Day, which this year marks the 60th anniversary of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.

IFUT said the anniversary was particularly relevant to the dispute because the recommendation recognised the importance of teachers’ pay, working conditions, workload, professional voice and participation in decisions affecting their work.

IFUT general secretary Frank Jones said the one-hour stoppage “sends a very clear message to Government”.

“Our members voted by 93% for industrial action,” Mr Jones said.

“They did so because the present position is not acceptable.

“People cannot be expected to keep getting poorer in real terms while the cost of living continues to rise.

“Government needs to put a credible pay proposition on the table.” 

Mr Jones said members wanted a settlement but were prepared to take further action to achieve one.

“The way to resolve this dispute is through serious negotiation and a pay agreement that protects living standards,” he said.

‘Appropriate day’ for action

IFUT president Michael Hinds said World Teachers’ Day was an “appropriate day for university staff to stand together”.

“For 60 years, the international standard on the status of teachers has recognised a simple principle - respect for teachers has to be reflected in how they are treated at work,” Mr Hinds said.

“That means fair pay, decent working conditions, manageable workloads, and having a real voice in decisions that affect our work.

“Our members teach, research, supervise and support students every day.

“The quality of education depends on the conditions in which that work is done,” he added.

“Our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions.”