Archive for the 'IFUT Institutions' Category

IFUT members to work normally on Monday, 30 March

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

At its meeting yesterday, Wednesday, 25 March, the National Executive of IFUT decided, in line with the decision of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, to advise all IFUT members to work normally on Monday next, 30 March 2009.
The General Secretary, Mike Jennings, has written to all members with an update. The General Secretary’s letter [...]

University Teachers vote for industrial action

Friday, March 20th, 2009

IFUT members have voted by a substantial majority to participate in the ICTU-organised National One-Day Work Stoppage scheduled for 30 March 2009.
The General Secretary, Mike Jennings, said that the ballot represents “the reluctant determination of IFUT members to register the strongest possible protest against the Government’s handling of the economic crisis”.
The ballot was counted today [...]

IFUT responds to reports of job losses in universities

Monday, March 16th, 2009

IFUT General Secretary, Mike Jennings, said any rationalisation of higher education would only work if it emerged from a sincere and constructive engagement with all of the stakeholders, particularly the university staff who are represented by IFUT.
“Rationalisation could be a good thing if it were genuinely aimed at bringing about improvements in the education system. [...]

Labour Court recommendation represents historic victory for academic freedom

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

IFUT has warmly welcomed a Recommendation from the Labour Court that disciplinary warnings against a University Academic who had been punished for not following orders regarding his Research Plans should be quashed and expunged from his employment record.
The Labour Court also recommended (LCR 19466) that the university, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), should “proceed as swiftly [...]

IFUT secures Rights Commissioner award in respect of flaws in promotion process in NUIM

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

A Rights Commissioner has awarded €4000 to an IFUT member in NUI Maynooth arising from certain inadequacies in the University’s promotion process.
The Rights Commissioner found in favour of IFUT in all areas of its submission. Specifically she said inter alia that:

The Promotions Board changed the procedures without agreement and after the application had been submitted [...]

“Minister’s action caused 15 months of needless hardship to fixed-term staff”

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

In an important ruling, the Labour Court has determined that two Fixed-Term Contract Lecturers, who lost their jobs when the Department of Education closed St Catherine’s College of Education for Home Economics, must be paid the same ex-gratia redundancy as their permanent colleagues.
The Labour Court also awarded additional compensation of €2500 each to the two [...]

IFUT wins Labour Court case to secure promotion to Associate Professor for member in UCD

Sunday, December 14th, 2008

In an important Recommendation, the Labour Court has supported IFUT’s contention that UCD was wrong not to promote one of its members to the post of Associate Professor.
The member in question had twice won his appeals against his non-selection for promotion. The Appeals Committee had explicitly said that “it was unreasonable to conclude that you [...]

IFUT votes to endorse pay deal and vows to continue fight against education cuts

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

IFUT members have voted to accept the terms of the National Pay Agreement. It had been recommended for acceptance by the IFUT Executive.
IFUT’s General Secretary, Mike Jennings, said “We are very pleased that our members agreed with our recommendation that the deal was the best available in the current climate.
“However, no one should interpret this [...]

Supreme Court Rules on Case Involving Professor in UCC

Friday, November 7th, 2008

The Supreme Court has made a Judgement in a case regarding threatened disciplinary action against a Professor in UCC.
The Judgement has interesting implications regarding tenure for university staff.
The full text of the judgement is available here (Members only).

Labour Court awards compensation to redeployed IFUT Members

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

The Labour Court has recommended that the Department of Education should pay compensation of €3000 each to five IFUT members who were redeployed to various higher education institutions when the College closed in August 2007.
The award follows complaints by IFUT that the Department mishandled the closure very badly. IFUT sought compensation for losses of [...]