USI Hypocrisy and Arrogance

SIPTU taking unfair dismissal case against USI

In a staggering display of arrogance and hypocrisy the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) top brass were found by the Rights Commissioner of the Labour Relations Commission of Ireland to have treated a former employee in a “grossly unfair” way. Matters are now coming to a head and may upset agendas for next week’s USI annual get-together.

Earlier today SIPTU’s Education Branch Organiser, Chris Rowland, said that the Rights Commissioner issued a recommendation last September awarding compensation for loss of earnings. To-date the USI has failed to implement it. “Such blatant disregard for fair procedure flies in the face of statements issued by the USI demanding that employers afford workers their fundamental rights”, said Ms Rowland.

The reason that this hypocritical treatment of its own workers is news today is that “SIPTU is now taking a case for unfair dismissal [on behalf of the USI office worker] and a hearing is set for April 16, 2007”.

Additionally, the USI will be holding its National Congress in Bundoran, Co Donegal next week from Tuesday 3rd to Friday 6th April. Some sources are predicting that the flagrantly illegal and disgraceful maltreatment of its own employee and the subsequent bad publicity from the excoriating judgement of the Rights Commissioner is going to cause ructions at the USI congress.

According to the ‘About USI’ section of USI’s website, Point (d) states that “The Union works for ... The defence and promotion of all democratic and human rights.” Not only that, but according to SIPTU’s website: “The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is affiliated to SIPTU”!

Will the USI leadership do what the Rights Commission recommended? Will they pay the compensation for unfair treatment and for illegal suspension resulting in loss of earnings? Will an apology be forthcoming? Let’s wait and see what the students of Ireland have to say to their great leaders next week!

For more info:
Contact the USI: http://www.usi.ie/pages/contact-usi.php
Contact SIPTU and see their press release on the issue: http://www.siptu.ie/IndustrialSectors/CultureandEducati....html