St Angela’s College, Sligo lecturers are today (Tuesday, March 10th) taking strike action over serious concerns related to the proposed incorporation of the college into NUI Galway (NUIG). Further strike action will follow if required.
Management at the college have consistently and abjectly failed to engage with the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) at either local or national level concerning the proposed incorporation process despite the serious concerns of members in relation to their terms and conditions of employment.
TUI is insisting that regional provision of third level education must continue at St Angela’s College for existing and future students. As it stands, there is no guarantee that the provision of Home Economics and Nursing Studies will continue on the campus, nor is there is a guarantee in relation to the retention of lecturing jobs on the campus.
In addition, an FAQ document issued by NUIG last week stated that ‘it is not the intention of NUI Galway to negotiate or enter into collective agreements with any trade union that is not currently recognised by the University.’ Clearly, this is completely unacceptable as it discriminates against St Angela’s staff and their union representation. St Angela’s lecturing staff are represented by TUI and this must continue now and into the incorporation with NUIG.
TUI represents almost 60 lecturing staff in the college.
Key concerns of St Angela’s lecturers relate to:
- the failure of management to appropriately and adequately engage with TUI locally and nationally in respect of the proposed incorporation of St Angela’s into NUIG
- the failure of management to provide unambiguous confirmation that the terms and conditions of employment of TUI members, including promotional structures and opportunities as lecturers, will be protected in the event of incorporation and
- the failure of management to confirm that mandatory transfers from St Angela’s to other campuses of NUIG will not occur
Speaking this morning, TUI Deputy General Secretary Annette Dolan said:
‘Staff at St Angela’s were left with no option but take strike action today over the complete lack of engagement by management with TUI at local or national level.
St Angela’s College is of huge importance to the local economy, and the college has a remarkable track record of producing graduates of the highest quality who excel in their areas.
TUI is insisting that regional provision of third level education must continue at St Angela’s College for existing and future students. As it stands, there is no guarantee that the provision of Home Economics and Nursing Studies will continue on the campus, nor is there is a guarantee in relation to the retention of lecturing jobs on the campus.
Under the current plans, staff would be demoted from lecturers to teachers. Effectively, they would carry out the same duties as colleagues but their job titles would be changed and they would have little or no opportunity for career progression. This makes no educational sense as the lecturers have the necessary qualifications and have been at the equivalent grade, salary and conditions as colleagues.
We are gravely concerned by a document issued by NUIG last week which states that the college will not negotiate or enter into collective agreements with any trade union that is not currently recognised by the University. This is an affront to good industrial relations practices and discriminates against St Angela’s lecturing staff. TUI representation for current St Angela’s lecturing staff must continue now and into the incorporation with NUIG.
The document also raises a number of new concerns about the terms and conditions of lecturers subsequent to the incorporation.
The position of St Angela’s lecturers today is clear. Existing conditions of service must be protected in this incorporation and further strike action will be taken if necessary.’