I welcome the workers here tonight. It is not easy to come here after being on a picket line for two days in the cold. BIMM is exploiting the talent and creativity of these musicians and lecturers. The BIMM website boasts about unrivalled industry connections, experienced tutors and how the institute opens doors into the music industry. The restructuring that is happening is classic race to the bottom, Uber-isation of skilled workers, to drive their wages and conditions down and make more money for the college. It is to replace the existing lecturers with lesser pay and conditions. As it is, the BIMM staff are paid less than other lecturers. This falls very much within the Minister's brief. When we look at how this college is set up, we see that students who want to study music apply through the CAO, as was said. They apply to TUD and they get a publicly funded SUSI grant if they qualify but they are in a private college. This is because TUD took the decision in 2010 to outsource this course to BIMM. The Minister has the power to look into taking over this college tomorrow if he likes, running it in the same way as all the other colleges in the country are run, with equal pay and conditions for the workers, unless, that is, the Minister supports the outsourcing, underfunding and driving down of pay and conditions in colleges. There is also a need for solidarity from other workers. For example, the workers told me yesterday that while they were on the picket line the classes were being provided online by people who have chosen to scab on them. That is a lesson for teachers and others. It is critical that the Minister intervenes here to tell TUD and BIMM to stop and drop this disgraceful plan to drive down these workers.

Sentiment score: 0.05

In his reply the Minister said that TUD has engaged with BIMM on a number of courses but quality assurance, blah, blah, blah, is all interlinked. How can there be quality assurance if people's pay and conditions are driven down? This is the Minister's responsibility. TUD could employ the staff at BIMM if the Minister gave that direction and made it happen. He could make that happen. A lot of the Minister's answer seemed to be trying to find ways that would prevent him from getting involved. The Minister needs to be looking for ways that he can get involved. A very strong statement from the Minster for higher education in Ireland in opposition to what BIMM is doing would carry a lot of weight as well. It would certainly offer a lot of strength and solidarity to these workers. Would the Minister even agree to issue that? Another thing the Government could do is make union recognition absolutely mandatory. For many people who are in a union, their employer, such as the one we are discussing, does not really negotiate with them. I appeal to the Minister not to play Pontius Pilate but to look for ways he can help these workers and the students.

Sentiment score: 0.23

Publicly.

Sentiment score: 0.00