Students Vote Against Lobbying College to Abolish

Booking and Equipment Fees

Gina Bagnulo

Senior Editor

review of PhD supports currently taking place, with the aim of ensuring that “Minister Harris and his review understand the full breadth of systemic difficulties faced by PhDs all over Ireland, and to remind all stakeholders of the tangible human impacts of poor PhD conditions and lack of workers’ rights”.

In a press release on the merge and the membership drive published earlier today, PCAU President Kyle Hamilton said: “The complexity and lack of cohesion in the funding system for Postgraduate research in Ireland has led to the exploitation of postgraduate researchers at every level, from provision of stipends (or lack thereof!) to remuneration for teaching, demonstrating, and all the responsibilities that often come as a requirement of the PhD –sometimes in the form of free labour for the university”.

She continued: “As postgraduate researchers we need to come together to expose and stop these unfair practices and to ensure that each and every PGR is able to live and work in a dignified manner with a livable wage and all the benefits that accrue from employment status and union representation”.

In the same press release, Eoghan Ross, the Vice Chair of PGWA TCD, said: “Despite the vital roles that postgraduate researchers fill in universities in Ireland, they have been continuously denied access to basic workers rights, fair working conditions and a livable income”.

“Postgraduate researchers in Ireland need a union who know the issues faced and are able to fight for the changes we need”, he added.

“Formed by postgraduate researchers, the PWO is committed to seeing these changes brought about and is determined to see a fairer and more equitable future for Irish research”.

Cristina Perea del Olmo, Chair of PGWA UCD, added: “PhD researchers in Ireland play a crucial role in maintaining the level of research excellence and provide invaluable work for education at Universities”.

“In spite of this, we live in a systematically precarious situation of low pay and denial of basic rights. Numerous European countries have already acknowledged the need to recognise PhD researchers as workers and have acted accordingly.”

She finished: “With this membership drive we will be able to unite as a formal organisation of PhD researchers across Ireland to demand the necessary reform that will recognise us as workers and assure minimum standards to protect our rights”.

Trinity Sport will continue to require pre-booking and equipment fees after the student body voted against lobbying College to abolish booking and equipment fees.

The referendum, run by Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union on January 30th, asked students to vote on whether they would support a Long Term Policy (LTP) to lobby College to abolish booking and equipment fees in favour of supporting the collection of the Sports Centre Development Charge (SCDC), paid by registered students at the beginning of the academic year.

In an email statement to The University Times , Trinity Sports Union (TSU) Chairperson Liam Bean said: “In light of the recent referendum results, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who participated in the voting process”.

“Without your participation, the students’ voices would not have been heard. The Trinity Sport Union along with the 49 sport clubs, stands united and moments like these emphasise our