The incoming president of the TUI is Joe Carolan (above), a teacher of business studies and accounting at Coola Vocational School in Co Sligo. He takes up office from the current president, Alice Prendergast, on Monday, July 1st. Carolan believes that the greatest single issue facing teachers and lecturers is the challenge to defend and improve the conditions of service of every member of the TUI.

The new president joined the TUI in 1979. Since then he has held most senior union positions at both branch and national level. He has been a member of the executive committee for nine years - five of them as a national officer. He has also been acting general secretary.