Pickets were mounted on the gate of Waterford Institute of Technology yesterday as the college's 7,500 students boycotted lectures in a one-day protest over the introduction of a high-tech smart card.
The strike was called by the WIT Students Union following a clash with the steering committee behind the new smart card which has been introduced at the college.
The aim of the card is to make the campus a predominantly cash-free environment and the multi-purpose card can be used to pay for meals, books and stationery as well as accessing facilities such as printing, photocopying and student banking.
However, in some areas the cash option has now been completely replaced by the WIT card and the students' union is arguing that its members should have the choice of using the card or paying by cash.
It also objects to a £15 replacement fee for lost cards and maintains the system does not secure against theft as there is no PIN number or signature required with card transactions.
Up to 60 students manned the pickets, which began at 8.30 a.m. yesterday.
These consisted of union officials and class representatives. The remainder of the student body stayed at home for the day.
Discussions aimed at averting the strike took place last Friday.
While the steering committee undertook to review the situation and monitor some of the perceived problems in the absence of immediate action, the union decided to go ahead with the one-day protest.