Tuesday 25th February, 2014

The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has warmly welcomed the agreement reached today to hold an independent evaluation of pay structures for staff at the Tyndall Institute in UCC. IFUT has for some time been seeking to have pay and other inequities arising under the Croke Park and Haddington Rd Agreements addressed.

Following talks involving the Labour Relations Commission, staff representatives as well as the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Education and Science, IFUT members today accepted the proposal to hold an independent evaluation by a very substantial majority.

Commenting on the decision, IFUT General Secretary, Mike Jennings, said that the decision to have this matter addressed “represents a victory for common sense and an acknowledgement that the research agenda is being taken seriously. I am confident that both the plight and flight of researchers from Ireland will be addressed seriously.

“We look forwards to assisting the evaluation process in whatever way possible to ensure that the issues affecting Tyndall staff can now be quickly resolved fully, without violating existing national agreements,” he said.

ENDS

For further information on this media release contact:

John Gallagher, John Gallagher Consulting.  Tel. 087.9369888

Mike Jennings, General Secretary, IFUT.  Tel. 087.6776747