Staff at DIT are not happy campers, and strike action is on the cards. Talks between the institute and the TUI on "facultisation" are said to have reached an impasse.
The union wants new posts arising from the new structures to be filled internally, as well as reduced teaching hours for staff teaching at more than one site. Staff are particularly angry about a recent change in qualification requirements for senior posts - research activity is now an essential rather than a desirable requirement. On top of this, the union is angry that the DIT is failing to adhere to a PCW provision which allows for the conversion of 170 non-permanent posts to permanency. The union wants current post-holders to be given the jobs. Meanwhile, DIT College of Music staff are particularly concerned about the 40 per cent hike in annual tuition fees for musical-instrument classes this year. They say a new ceiling has been placed on the number of half-hour instrument classes, which will reduce the number of student places available.
There's widespread concern, too, that in the push to achieve university status, traditional DIT areas like music and apprenticeships are being downgraded. "The PCW agreement was reached after more than 3 years negotiation," according to a DIT spokesperson. "It was rejected on a first ballot by the union members and subsequently accepted by a majority vote, so of course it is natural that some people may be unhappy with it. DIT is obliged to implement the PCW as agreed."
The spokesperson adds that the DIT is required to be involved in research and development under the terms of the DIT Act. "The current numbers involved in postgraduate work and R&D and the continuing growth in these areas mean that it is necessary for us to have senior people with this type of experience and involvement."
Regarding the situation in the College of Music, the spokesperson says that the DIT must balance its "twin obligations of providing the best service it can to its students and its obligation to provide value for money to the taxpayer".
