Archive for Industrial action

The Union Matters

Posted in Biographical, Maynooth, Politics with tags , , , , on August 20, 2026 by telescoper

I don’t often post anything about matters pertaining to the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), of which I am a member, but there is something very important going on so I thought I would make an exception. In what follows, I of course speak for myself as an IFUT member and not for IFUT as a whole.

Yesterday I attended an information session in advance of a forthcoming ballot for industrial action. The reason for the action is that the Public Service Agreement, covering pay and working conditions for all public service workers in Ireland, lapsed at the end of June this year (2026) and there is currently no pay settlement for the second half of this year or next year. Salaries have fallen behind inflation under the existing Agreement and some important commitment have not yet been implemented. The Government does not give the impression of being serious about negotiations on these matters.

The members’ ballot will comprise a single YES/NO question on whether or not to support industrial action, including strike action. I think this is an important step towards serious negotiations. I will be supporting industrial action.

The IFUT ballot will open on September 1st, but only IFUT members (working in public institutions) will be able to vote. If you are eligible for IFUT membership, you should join now so that you can have your say and strengthen the collective position of higher education staff. Eligible colleagues who join IFUT by 5pm on 31 August 2026 will be eligible to vote in the ballot. You can join IFUT here. If you’re eligible, please join!

Similar ballots are taking place across all the public service unions. If it comes to industrial action – which I hope it does not – then such action will be coordinated across the public sector.

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Industrial Action at BIMM Dublin

Posted in Politics with tags , , , , on February 8, 2025 by telescoper

I heard today that after a strike ballot, members of the Irish Federation of University Teachers at the BIMM Institute in Dublin (Francis Street, Dublin 8) will be taking industrial action from Monday 10th February in response to proposed redundancies. The proposed dates are:

  • Monday, 10th February                  From 0830 to 1600
  • Tuesday, 11th February                 From 0830 to 1600
  • Saturday, 15th February (Open Day)  Time to be confirmed
  • Wednesday, 19th February              From 0830 to 1600
  • Thursday, 20th February                From 0830 to 1600

I understand the students at BIMM are organizing demonstrations in support of staff threatened with redundancy. As an IFUT member I wish to take the opportunity provided by this blog express solidarity with those taking part in industrial action and hope for a negotiated resolution to the dispute. I am not based in Dublin, so I can’t attend the picket lines in person to show support on weekdays, but I am planning to attend on Saturday 15th February. I will also be wearing my IFUT badge…

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Marking and Assessment Boycott

Posted in Education with tags , , on April 20, 2023 by telescoper

Meanwhile, in the UK, members of the University and College Union have begun a marking and assessment boycott as part of the lengthy industrial action they are taking against employers over pay and working conditions. I am no longer involved in UK academia, of course, and indeed I will be spending much of this afternoon correcting class tests, but I know plenty of people who are so I’d like to express my support for this just cause.

I’m taking this opportunity to share this video made by UCU of a presentation about the marking and assessment boycott, which I hope may prove useful.

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Solidarity to the UCU Strikers #UCURising

Posted in Education with tags , , , on February 14, 2023 by telescoper

Today is Thursday 14th February so it sees the first of another three consecutive days of strike action by members of the University and College UCU across the UK over pay, pensions and working conditions. Although I no longer work in the UK I’d like to send this message of support to my former colleagues there who will be out on the picket lines today. There will be another three days of strikes next week, and four days the week after that.

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Solidarity to the UCU Strikers #UCURising

Posted in Education with tags , , , on February 9, 2023 by telescoper

Today is Thursday 9th February so it sees the first of another two consecutive days of strike action by members of the University and College UCU across the UK. Although I no longer work in the UK I’d like to send this message of support to my former colleagues there who will be out on the picket lines tomorrow and on subsequent days. There will be further escalation of strike action next week, with three days of strikes.

This industrial action arises from a dispute over pensions, pay, and working conditions. The strikes will affect 2.5 million students but are necessary to safeguard not only the livelihoods of academic staff against increased casualisation and salary cuts but the UK university system itself, which is being ruined by incompetent management. Regrettably, the strikes will cause considerable disruption but, frankly, there is no point in a strike that doesn’t do that.

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