Minister urged to intervene in NUIG row

Unionised workers at NUI Galway are ‘angry and frustrated’ by university management’s refusal to attend the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to resolve a dispute over an equality taskforce.

SIPTU and IFUT, who represent up to 1,000 academic and non-academic staff at NUIG, have called on Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan to intervene in the dispute by urging management to attend the LRC.

The two unions have insisted the equality taskforce established by the university to tackle endemic gender discrimination within NUIG is not independent. The unions this week reiterated their members have “no confidence” in that taskforce and have urged management to attend the LRC to discuss the issues.

NUIG president, Jim Browne, called a meeting with union representatives recently where he updated them on the progress being made by the equality taskforce that was appointed in February.

The taskforce, which issued an interim report in June, was criticised by unions from the beginning for not being independent. They also argued it would not be effective.

At the recent meeting, Mr Browne stood by the taskforce and told unions management would not be attending LRC.

In a statement, issued by SIPTU and on behalf of IFUT, the unions said they were “astonished” that NUIG, a publicly funded organisation, would “completely disregard the State’s industrial relations machinery”.

SIPTU organiser, Noel Maguire, told the Galway City Tribune that NUIG workers had no confidence in management to resolve this dispute internally.

“We heard nothing new at this meeting. Management presented a version of events that denies current and historical reality. Oblivious to the extent of the problem, Jim Browne, sought to lecture staff representatives on management’s ‘bravery’ and ‘achievements’ on equality.

“We believe that the meeting was not held in good faith. It is our view that the management strategy was more about simulating engagement, while in reality trying to frustrate any input from worker representatives. Our members have no confidence in NUIG management to resolve this problem internally.

“For a proper investigation of these matters the intervention of an independent third party is required. The refusal by management to accept this is a further demonstration of its abject fear of independent scrutiny on this subject.”

Mr Maguire said both unions were ready to discuss the issues at LRC. He added: “If the President is serious about ending discrimination and is genuine about co-operating with unions, then agreeing to attend the LRC would restore some semblance of confidence.

“Our members are frustrated at the toxic environment they face every day; they are losing patience with management’s arrogant and obstructive attitude and are demanding action.”