Trinity will only run “limited, essential services” on Wednesday, October 14th and Wednesday, October 21st, during the upcoming national strike involving all public sector unions. This was announced in a university-wide email from Vice-Provost and Chief Academic Officer Orla Sheils and Human Resources Director Séamus McManus.
The email also said that SIPTU members at Trinity will begin work-to-rule tomorrow, October 7th. This means that they will work strictly to their job descriptions and within their designated working hours. Trinity listed SIPTU members in IT Services, Financial Services Division, security, library services, catering, day nursery, and sports, among others.
The email said that work-to-rule is “not expected” to impact the operating hours of the library, the Sports Centre, service centres, health and disability services, the accommodation office, or catering. However, the email also said that it is being kept “under review”.
In a statement on Instagram attributed to Student Worker Officer Harry Johnston, the Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union said it stood in solidarity with college workers, specifically describing “poor job security, lack of fair pay and consistent broken promises by the Government” for lecturers and postgraduate workers. Johnston added, “These Workers make college possible through research and teaching, they deserve our support in fighting for a better workplace.”
The email has not detailed what will actually happen on the 14th and 21st. The university has created an Industrial Action Preparedness Group that is assessing the situation, and “all Heads of Area are currently assessing the likely impacts and preparing accordingly”.
This news comes after Trinity cancelled all teaching from 12pm-1pm yesterday for industrial action.
