Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) will pay the wages of any casual staff in Trinity’s Catering Department who can’t work because of the occupation of the Dining Hall.
The current cost of covering the wages is estimated at around €2,000, but the cost is expected to increase as the occupation continues tonight.
In an email statement to The University Times, TCDSU President Kevin Keane said: “We have agreed to pay the wages of all the workers, by means of compensation for their inconvenience.”
While there is no formal agreement yet between Trinity Catering Department and TCDSU, Moira O’Brien, Trinity’s Catering Manager, speaking to The University Times, said that an approximate figure for the cost of last night could be around €2,000.
Most employees who have missed work are students in Trinity. The occupation forced the cancellation of an event last night in the Dining Hall and O’Brien said that the occupation has also forced the cancellation of a second event tonight.
As the occupation of the Dining Hall continues into its second day, students remain in the Dining Hall in protest at Trinity’s decision to introduce a €450 flat fee for supplemental exams.
The occupation of the Dining Hall has seen the historical building turned into a base for the campaign, forcing Commons – the nightly dinner for Scholars and Fellows – to be cancelled and effectively limiting entry to campaign members and supporters. Senior academics can still access the senior common room above the hall, and the 1592 restaurant is still running.
The Dining Hall is usually open to students and tourists for food throughout the day and is run by Trinity College Catering.
As the occupation enters its second day, the campaign group has a series of lectures, teach-ins and a film screening planned.
