‘Regional variations in pay in Technological University sector completely unacceptable’ – TUI

By piofficer, Tuesday, 21st January 2025 | 0 comments

The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) has described as ‘completely unacceptable’ the announcement by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) Patrick O’Donovan TD today giving sanction for the advertising of equivalent senior posts at different salaries in different technological universities.

Last year, TUI members in the sector voted by a margin of 92% to 8% to give a mandate for industrial action over the non-adherence by DFHERIS and institute management to a collective agreement concerning the establishment of technological universities.

The TUI has said that there can be no regional variations in pay or conditions in the sector, in which it represents 4,800 academic staff.  

The Union has been engaging with DFHERIS under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) with the next meeting scheduled for February.  The announcement by the Minister today demonstrates a lack of respect for the WRC process which the TUI has engaged in to date in good faith.

The TUI has said that it will not allow the Department to treat technological universities differently where agreed industrial relations processes have not concluded.

Speaking today, TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie said:

‘There must be parity of esteem across the technological university (TU) sector and any regional variations in pay or conditions are completely unacceptable to us.

The TU sector must continue to have nationally agreed terms and conditions for all the grades represented by the TUI and for any proposed new grades within the scope of the Union.

In 2017, TUI members at third level voted in a national ballot to accept a collective agreement concerning the establishment of TUs. Regrettably, DFHERIS and management have not adhered to this collective agreement.  

The agreement provided for retention of the sector – previously the Institute of Technology sector and thenceforth the Technological University sector – and for prior meaningful communication, consultation and, where appropriate, negotiation with the TUI on relevant matters. It also specifically provides for a national review of lecturing.

The TUI has a proven track record, negotiating at national level, in establishing and protecting the terms and conditions for members in the higher education institutions in our sector. Our members accepted the 2017 agreement in good faith in a national ballot.

The manner and nature of this development is completely unacceptable.’

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