SIPTU members have placed pickets at the Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork (UCC) today (Tuesday, 21st January) since 7.00 a.m. and concluding at 6.00 p.m. The dispute concerns the pay inequity which exists between a large number of Tyndall employees and their counterparts doing the same or similar work on UCC main campus. The difference in pay is of the order of 10% to 20%. The SIPTU members involved include researchers, engineers, administration, technical and IT staff. The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) is also involved in the dispute although its members will not be placing an official picket due to procedural reasons. IFUT members are expected, however, to support the SIPTU picket tomorrow. The pickets will be placed on the five entrances to the Tyndall institute which is not part of the UCC main campus. “Not only is there a considerable pay gap with counterparts in UCC but that gap is going to widen as increments are paid to the other university staff. This dispute can be resolved if the departments of Education and Public Expenditure and Reform are willing to put forward concrete measures to address the widening pay gap,” SIPTU Sector Organiser, Louise O’Reilly, said.
SIPTU members place pickets at Tyndall Institute over pay inequity
