Students unions terrible treatment of staff

national | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Friday August 18, 2006 15:29 by rory

Students’ Unions' treatment of workers should be condemned

Two students’ unions have been sharply criticised in recent weeks for the
treatment of their staff.

Students’ Unions' treatment of workers should be condemned

Two students’ unions have been sharply criticised in recent weeks for the
treatment of their staff.

Trinity College Students’ Union (TCDSU) issued redundancy notices to five
employees, but the staff, represented by SIPTU, were unhappy with the
redundancy package and manner in which TCDSU acted. The dispute is now at the
Labour Court and SIPTU says TCDSU acted in an “ unacceptable” and “cavalier
fashion.”

SIPTU claims the Union of Students of Ireland’s (USI) recent suspension of a
worker happened “completely outside due process and fair procedures.” This
dispute is now at the Rights Commissioner.
As former President of TCDSU and Deputy President of USI I am shocked at what
these Students’ Unions are doing.

Students’ Unions, as trade unions with workers, emerged through intense struggle
for the right of student’s voices to be heard in colleges and at a national
level. They were formed on the principles of democracy, social justice, women’s
rights, gay rights and for international solidarity.

Just as colleges are increasingly run like businesses with non-profit making
courses such as arts and humanities being cut, it appears Student’s Unions too
are adopting the business approach. Students' Unions are rationalising, cutting
staff and becoming mere service providers, focused on a business ethic and the
bottom line rather than representing students and following union principles.
This is demonstrated in recent negotiations between SIPTU and TCDSU where
unbelieveably TCDSU was represented by IBEC the employers’ organisation.

Despite the stereotypes, students today face considerable challenges such as the
return of fees (the ‘registration’ fee is now over €1000 in some colleges while
part-time and post graduate fees runs into thousands of euro), inadequate
maintenance grants, the spiraling cost of living and of course access still
remains a serious issue.

As more and more students work while at college issues traditionally confined to
the trade unions, such as, the right to join a union, the race to the bottom and
the minimum wage must now be addressed by students’ unions.

This is what is so shameful about USI and TCDSU’s actions. To campaign for and
improve students’ conditions requires building strong relationships with those
who are on our side, for example, union and college staff and the trade union
movement. As the phrase goes- Ni neart go cur le cheile - unity is strength.
Students must raise their voices again and reclaim their unions to make them
what they should and can be: organisations that set the standards for the rest
of the country to follow in terms of setting exemplary practice for employment
standards, fighting for their members and promoting social justice and
equality. USI and TCDSU should start by acting as unions not businesses and
treat their workers properly.