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Culture and Education


Comp Authority
Competition Authority cuts a swathe through freelance performers and writers

Government’s ‘Yellow Pack’ approach to university research staff will lead to brain drain, not knowledge economy

The Government has been accused of adopting a ‘Yellow Pack’ approach towards 2,000 highly qualified research staff at Irish universities who are expected to produce a ‘knowledge economy’ on the basis of short term contracts and low pay. SIPTU Education Branch Organiser Chris Rowland said today that, “The Irish Government policy of creating a ‘Knowledge Economy’ is seriously undermined by its ‘Yellow Pack’ attitude towards talented young researchers. They are expected to compete with the world’s best while denied any security of employment.

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SIPTU welcomes UCD decision on recruitment

SIPTU’s Education Branch Organiser, Chris Rowland, has welcomed the decision of the Irish Universities, in particular UCD, to use international best practice in recruitment of academic staff.

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Unions join forces to fight Competition Authority

Irish Equity Group, the Musicians' Union of Ireland, SIPTU's Film and Entertainment Branch and the National Union of Journalists have joined forces to fight for the right of actors, musicians, film crews and freelance journalists to be collectively represented by a trade union.

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BreadRoses

SIPTU's interest in both culture and education is threefold.

In both cases the Union organises workers employed in providing cultural and educational experiences – both those who actually deliver these experiences (such as performers or teachers) and the support staff who facilitate them.

In both cases the Union expresses views on behalf of those who benefit from these activities.

Finally in both cases the Union is itself a promoter of these activities - primarily through the ongoing work of  the Liberty Hall Centre for the Performing Arts and of SIPTU College - but also in terms of commissioning works of art and supporting particular cultural projects from time to time and promoting research and scholarship in a range of areas including labour history.