Part-time teachers seek damages from CIT

THIRTEEN PART-TIME teachers in the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) are seeking damages at the High Court arising from the …

THIRTEEN PART-TIME teachers in the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) are seeking damages at the High Court arising from the alleged failure of their employer over several years to pay them the same rate as full-time colleagues.

Since the case was initiated six years ago, the pay of the part-time teachers has been brought into line with full-time teachers but the plaintiffs claim they are entitled to damages for when they received lower pay. The teachers claim they were discriminated against in relation to pay and pension rights and their constitutional right to equal treatment was breached.

The case is against the Cork VEC, the Minister for Education and Science, CIT, Ireland and the Attorney General. The VEC and CIT yesterday asked the High Court to strike out the proceedings on grounds the teachers have no claim against them. The VEC and CIT also claim the teachers’ proceedings disclose no reasonable cause of action and are an abuse of the court process. The teachers were employed on contracts renewable every year and most worked 15-16 hours per week.

The 13 teachers are: Patrick Quigley, Michael Walsh, Julian Campbell, Marianne Gallagher, Patrick Moynihan, George Black, Noel McMorran, Catherina Hearne, Michael Murphy, John J O’Connor, Wilma O’Flynn, Gerard Forde and Arthur Tobin.

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Yesterday, Ms Justice Laffoy heard legal submissions from both sides on a preliminary issue in the case – whether the teachers have made out an arguable case of discrimination. Judgment has been reserved.