The Executive Committee of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) yesterday decided to ballot its members for industrial action.  At a meeting of the IFUT Executive, it was agreed that the Union would ballot members in September for industrial action unless the government reached an agreement with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on pay. 

 IFUT will ballot all members in Universities and other Higher Education Institutions covered by public sector pay agreements.  The Unions triggered a review clause of the current Building Momentum Agreement earlier this year when inflation was running at 5.6%.  With inflation now at 9.1% the IFUT Executive believe a realistic offer must be made to combat the impact inflation is having on members’ earnings. 

 Understanding that the WRC have invited the parties back to talks, the Union are calling on the government to enter meaningful negotiations to avert any possible industrial action.  

Following the meeting of the Executive, General Secretary of IFUT, Frank Jones, said “It is the preferred wish of the union to ballot members on a set of pay proposals, not for industrial action, but we will do what we need to do to protect and advance members’ interests.  We will now consult with members throughout the union and commence a ballot of our members in September, should the government fail in the meantime to make a meaningful offer in respect of pay.”