Trinity College Dublin has been found to have discriminated against 161 women part-time cleaners, secretaries and caterers by not giving them a pension scheme comparable with that of their male counterparts. In the case of the 35 caterers, the Office of the Director of Equality Investigations (ODEI) also found they were being discriminated against on pay.
TCD wrote to the workers' union SIPTU yesterday, saying it accepts the findings and will introduce the necessary pension and pay arrangements. SIPTU negotiator Ms Ita Gannon, who has herself been a part-time member of the college secretarial staff for 23 years, said they were delighted with the finding. "We very much welcome the decision, which is long overdue."
For most of the catering workers affected the decision will mean a pay increase of £45 a week to £259. For all staff it will mean a vastly improved pension scheme. Until now part-time staff were entitled to only a small gratuity on retirement, plus their old age pension.
From now on these staff will be entitled to participate in the college pensions scheme which, for staff recruited before 1995, is on top of their statutory old age pension. The ODEI says pension entitlements should be backdated three years from the lodging of the complaint, which was in 1997. This means staff will be credited with six years pensionable service.
TCD's staff relations manager, Mr Stephen McFadden, said the college welcomed the outcome "and the fact that conditions of employment have improved, despite the obvious difficulties the extra costings will involve".
The college will be contacting part-time staff who have left since the claim was lodged to notify them of any entitlements.