Lecturers in St Angela’s College in Sligo have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, including strike action, over serious concerns related to the proposed incorporation of the college into NUI Galway (NUIG). A day’s strike action will now take place on March 10th with further strike action to follow if required.
Management at St Angela’s 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.
Key concerns 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 afternoon, TUI Deputy General Secretary, Annette Dolan said:
‘Management at St Angela’s have completely failed to engage with TUI at local or national level despite the clear and serious concerns of members in relation to the proposed incorporation into NUIG.
We were left with no option but to ballot for industrial action and members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of this.
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. Staff have always fully engaged in innovation, adaptation and positive development.
Guarantees must be given that the provision of high quality third level education will be maintained in St Angela’s College.
Under the incorporation with NUIG, academic staff in St Angela’s would be demoted from university lecturers to teachers. Effectively, they would carry out the same duties as colleagues but their job title would be changed and they would have little or no opportunity for career progression. This would be discriminatory and elitist. In addition, it makes no educational sense, as the lecturing staff have always been college lecturers. They have the necessary qualifications and have been at the equivalent grade, salary and conditions as university lecturers.
While staff are not opposed to the opportunity that elements of the incorporation present, there must be parity of esteem. Existing conditions of service must be protected in this incorporation.’