Rob McNamara

Assistant General Secretary IFUT (all views my own)

[IFUT @ifut]

⚠️ IFUT has expressed grave concerns over reports that a significant number of Palestinian students from Gaza have been refused student visas despite having secured fully funded places at Irish higher education institutions.

🗞️ Read the full story - https://t.co/EDbqxhVq0c

#HigherEd #Gaza #Palestine

[IFUT @ifut]

🗳️ IFUT is holding online information sessions for members and colleagues across higher education in advance of the upcoming ballot for industrial action arising from the absence of a new Public Service Agreement.

Find your meeting listed here 🔎

https://t.co/jO8DTz8Dxp

#HigherEd #IFUT #TradeUnions #CollectiveBargaining #PublicServicePay

[IFUT @ifut]

⚠️IFUT has made the position clear to employers: they can engage now in meaningful negotiations, or the union will proceed with preparations for a ballot.

🗞️Read the full story: https://t.co/nBhJQ1sN02

✊Now is the time to join IFUT:
https://t.co/LsbhDdInL1

📨Existing members can update their details here:
https://t.co/N0TrKqUjSt

#HigherEd #IFUT

[IFUT @ifut]

🤝 Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD @lawlessj met with IFUT reps to addresses precarious employment, staffing restrictions and the public-service pay ballot

🗞️ Read the full story
https://t.co/H4IYpiesu9

#IFUT #HigherEd

[IFUT @ifut]

💶 IFUT members have exclusive access to membership of TUI Credit Union. You can join quickly and securely online using your phone - start accessing savings, loans and member benefits today!

🔗 Join today at https://t.co/q2dRYLjegi

#IFUT #MemberBenefits #CreditUnion

[IFUT @ifut]

📣 IFUT has announced that it will ballot higher education members for industrial action, up to and including strike action, following the Government’s failure to establish a credible basis for negotiations on a new public service pay agreement.

The ballot will seek members’ authority to take industrial action, up to and including strike action, should this become necessary to secure:

• an acceptable pay settlement covering the period from July to December 2026;

• appropriate pay increases for 2027 and any successor agreement;

• the early conclusion and full implementation of outstanding claims submitted under the 3% Local Bargaining Clause of the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026; and

• protection against the unilateral imposition of changes to work practices, the organisation of work or organisational structures without agreement with the union.

🔗Read the full story: https://t.co/5NU3Czl6PA

#HigherEd

[IFUT @ifut]

IFUT General Secretary Frank Jones spoke last week at the Oireachtas Committee on Sexual Violence and Harassment. IFUT welcomed the decision to examine the effectiveness of current arrangements, stressing that every student and every member of staff has the right to study and work in an environment free from violence, harassment, intimidation and abuse.

Concluding his evidence, Mr Jones thanked the Committee for the opportunity to contribute to its important work and reaffirmed IFUT's willingness to engage further with any review aimed at strengthening policies and procedures across the sector.

"IFUT believes there is a compelling case to examine whether a shared national investigative resource could deliver better outcomes for all parties while ensuring the more effective use of public resources. We look forward to continuing to work constructively with the Committee as it considers these important issues."

Read the full story at https://t.co/6VS0ZNiUUO

#HigherEd #IFUT #Oireachtas

[IFUT @ifut]

✉️ IFUT members: sign the important open letter “Concern about Research Ireland’s Strategy and Programme Plan” on the future direction of research funding and academic freedom in Ireland.

🖊️ Sign here https://t.co/AtSEP3smrH

#IFUT #AcademicFreedom

[Trinity College Dublin @tcddublin]

Met Éireann has issued a Status Orange wind warning for Dublin from 11am - 7pm today, Tuesday 9 December. Trinity will open as normal.
See https://t.co/MxsqCog2uq for updates. #StaySafe #StormBram

[IFUT @ifut]

Good to meet @LauraHarmon01 @labour with our delegation — @paul_gavan @irishcongress, @FrankJones @IFUT, EdwardLahiff (UCC) & @JohnWalshDWest (TCD) — to discuss staff voice in university governance.

The HEA Act leaves trade union reps out. That needs to change.

#IFUT #HEAAct #Governance #HigherEd

[Rob McNamara @RobMcNamaraTU]

Solidarity to the School Secretaries and Caretakers who start Strike action tomorrow. Make sure you drop along to your local school to show you support!

[IFUT @ifut]

No second-class staff!

Equal pension rights for school secretaries & caretakers.
IFUT backs @forsa_union_ie strike action.
Solidarity across the union movement.
📢 https://t.co/0jLCxYpqNP

@apike1

[IFUT @ifut]

No second-class staff!

Equal pension rights for school secretaries & caretakers.
IFUT backs @forsa_union_ie strike action.
Solidarity across the union movement.
📢 https://t.co/0jLCxYpqNP

@apike1

[IFUT @ifut]

🚨 National Week of Action | Sept 1–7 🚨
Precarious work. No right to union recognition. No right to bargain.

It’s not just unfair — it’s un-European. 🇪🇺

Join us in demanding real rights for workers.
📢 Sign the petition: https://t.co/8seXPEFtcX

@irishcongress @forsa_union_ie @siptu @MandateTU @UNITEunionIRE @TUIunion @ASTIunion @INTOnews
#RespectAtWork #WorkersRights #PrecariousNoMore

[IFUT @ifut]

📅 June 4th – UN International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has had a devastating impact on children, with many killed, injured, or displaced.

The @irishcongress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has invited workers, unions, and employers to observe a one-minute moment of reflection at 1:05 PM on Tuesday, June 4th, to acknowledge all children affected by war and violence.

⚠️ This is not a work stoppage. Participation is voluntary and supported where appropriate.

#June4 #UNDay #ChildVictimsDay #Gaza #IFUT #ICTU #PeaceForChildren

[Business Post @businessposthq]

The Business Post asked Irish academics if they supported such a move. Should US academics be given priority to come and live in Ireland? https://t.co/TnqPSF5cTC

[IFUT @ifut]

Mary Immaculate College lecturers are to seek University status https://t.co/SxIG3UPuGR

@ifut_MIC @MICLimerick

[IFUT @ifut]

Both @ifut and @SIPTU members have condemned as hypocrisy the Government proposing to pay additional monies to overseas academics and university lecturers in an attempt to attract them to Ireland while workers in the sector struggle with precarious work practices and understaffing.

SIPTU Education Sector Organiser, Karl Byrne, said: “Our members have noted  hypocrisy of this Government’s approach to issues in the Further and Higher Education Sector. While it has failed to deal apprenticeship delivery and precarious employment practices issues, despite previous commitments by Ministers and the Department of Education, it now has the public funds available to incentivise overseas academics to come here to work.

“The Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless, would be better served focusing on the outstanding recommendations of the Oireachtas Education Committees Report from 2022. Specifically ensuring that staffing levels increase so they can support additional courses, services and student numbers in the sector.”

He added: “There must proper analysis and workforce planning of staffing requirements. This would necessitate the removal of the current Employment Control Framework in sector deals with these issues in a completely arbitrary manner. There must also be action focused on stamping out hourly paid academic contracts and the outsourcing of support staff roles.”

IFUT Deputy General Secretary, Miriam Hamilton, said: “We note with extreme concern the attacks on academic freedom in the US and acknowledge the need to promote Ireland as a place of security in terms of thought, academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

“However, we oppose any proposal to fund top-up salaries for the recruitment of overseas academics, including those based in the US. Such an initiative would divert public funds towards salary supplantation above rates agreed for existing staff who currently conduct world class research and lecturing.

She added: “Currently there are thousands of academics across Irish Higher Education employed on precarious, fixed term or casual employment. Such employment practices limit academic freedom and undermines the contribution academics can make to research and teaching. Public funding should prioritise the creation of secure, sustainable academic jobs and career pathways for existing staff and new entrants, rather than subsidising international salary competition.”

[IFUT @ifut]

📢 New report highlights growing financial ties between Irish universities and major corporations.

Universities are increasingly reliant on industry funding to plug State funding gaps.

Read the full Irish Times article:
🔗 https://t.co/w8P414cOaj

#HigherEd #UniversityFunding #AcademicFreedom #IFUT

[IFUT @ifut]

Prof. @laoneill111 and other Irish academics have shared concerns about U.S. travel after facing intense scrutiny at borders. The need to support academic freedom and safe international collaboration is more important than ever.

https://t.co/MpkbcQgFIs

[IFUT @ifut]

IFUT's @FrankJonesDGS and @DaveMiskell met with @labour, @SocDems, @fiannafailparty, @FineGael, and @sinnfeinireland as part of our joint lobbying initiative with @TheUSI. Important discussions on higher education funding, precarious work, and the future of academia. Looking forward to continued engagement! #EducationMatters #WorkersRights”