SIPTU conference supports campaign against discrimination at NUI Galway

The SIPTU National Delegate Biennial Conference has condemned the lack of action by the management of NUI Galway to counter problems related to discrimination and precarious working conditions at the university. Delegates unanimously voted in support of an emergency motion supporting the SIPTU NUI Galway Equality Committee’s campaign against all forms of discrimination at the university and calling on management to attend conciliation talks with unions at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).   SIPTU Education Sector Organiser, Louise O Reilly, said: “Staff and students at NUI Galway face discrimination on a daily basis. SIPTU has now sent a strong message to NUI Galway management that this is completely unacceptable, that targeting shop stewards and ignoring the unions representing staff will not be tolerated at a publicly funded institution.”   SIPTU NUI Galway Equality Committee member, Maggie Ronayne: “As a result of the conference decision the SIPTU National Executive Council will be closely monitoring the situation at NUI Galway. The union will be formally contacting NUI Galway President, Jim Browne, to insist that management attends the WRC for conciliation talks with the unions on discrimination problems at the university.   “The message should be clear to the management of NUI Galway that it cannot ignore the industrial relations mechanisms of the State when it suits them.”