WIDESPREAD disruption is expected in the State's 11 RTCs as result of industrial action by members of IMPACT over the creation of additional permanent posts.
An overtime ban by 200 clerical administrative and library staff will affect the enrolment and registration of students as the new academic year begins. The follows the rejection yesterday by the union of the latest offer by the Department of Education settle the dispute.
The national secretary of IMPACT, Mr Al Butler, described the Department's offer to create an extra 30 posts as "too little, too late". The union claims a staffing agreement provided for the creation of 80 jobs from January, 1995.
Mr Butler said the dispute could also disrupt the payment of student grants, preparation of exam papers, enrolment for night classes and other student services. He warned of an escalation to include a ban on the use of telephones from next month if no progress was made to settle the dispute.
IMPACT would seriously consider "stronger action" if college management tried to circumvent the industrial action by using managers or temporary staff to cover for the staff in dispute, he added. "The Department's handling of this problem over the last 20 months has left us with no faith in its willingness or ability to enter meaningful talks on the full implementation of the agreement."
IMPACT wrote to the Minister for Education last week asking her to intervene in the dispute.
The Department now says it will meet college management to assess the implications of the industrial action. According to a statement, Ms Breathnach was "most anxious" to see an early resolution to the dispute in the interests of students.
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