A-Infos (en) Ireland, Anarchist journal, Workers Solidarity #94 - There is power in a union

SIPTU estimates that almost a third of workers in UCD are ‘fixed term 
workers’. The university also made a number of them redundant over the 
summer, including one who had been working for the college since 1981. 
All of this is part of a trend in universities (and in other workplaces) 
to replace permanent staff with contract workers. For example, two years 
ago there were 21 permanent staff in the exams office but today there 
are only 11. Instead, approximately 30 temporary / fixed contract staff 
have been used – in some cases on three-month contracts. The insecurity 
of contract workers makes it much more difficult for them to defend 
their working conditions and pay. It was no surprise when over 80% voted 
for strike action. When management seemingly backed down SIPTU agreed to 
suspend the strike action – though we reserved the right to strike again 
if they renege on the agreement. This was a huge victory for the most 
insecure workers in the university, and showed how a union can and 
should fight for its members’ interests.
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