Strike disrupts Trinity Week events

TRADITIONAL Trinity Week events at Trinity College, Dublin were disrupted yesterday by a strike over pension rights involving more than 200 SIPTU.

The college remains closed to the public today as a result of the two day industrial action by administrative, security, library and cleaning staff. However, the traditional Trinity Monday announcement of new scholars and fellows went ahead yesterday. The dinner which followed was moved to a Dublin hotel.

No further negotiations are planned following the breakdown of talks last week between the college authorities and SIPTU and other unions involved. SIPTU has warned it may take further industrial action of up to five days' duration unless agreement is reached on the issues involved in the dispute.

These include a demand for pension rights for part time workers. The unions are also resisting attempts by the college to co ordinate staff pensions with State pensions, a measure it says will cost staff an average of £36 a week in pension entitlements.

A college spokesman promised the summer exams, which start for 8,000 students from next Monday, will not be affected by dispute. Exams are due to be on campus as normal but the authorities have drawn up contingency plans involving outside venues.

The college proposed that the issue of part time pensions be dealt with by means of an expert group which would make a submission to the public sector pensions commission, a body which includes union representatives. However, this approach was rejected by the unions, which point out that their members could put in 30 hours' work a week for 40 years without qualifying for a pension.