Paul Murphy decries BIM Music College redundancies and 'uberisation'
Paul Murphy said BIM Music College lecturers have been forced onto the picket lines as 53 workers face redundancy, calling the proposals part of an "uberisation" of academic conditions and criticising re-employment offers and bogus self-employment. He urged the Tánaiste, TU Dublin and the State to intervene and to require BIM to engage with workers at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
Paul Murphy set out that 53 BIM Music College workers face redundancy, with a small number potentially re-employed at less than half their previous hourly wage and others offered bogus self-employment or zero-hour contracts.
He highlighted that about 80% of the students are in BIM and paid for by the State through TU Dublin, saying the provision is effectively outsourced to BIM and arguing the State cannot wash its hands of the situation.
Murphy asked the Tánaiste to say that BIM should engage with the workers at the WRC, and argued TU Dublin should tell BIM to back off or else not continue with the arrangement.
The Tánaiste responded that the issue is distressing for those affected and noted BIM is a private provider. He emphasised strong employment rights, the use of industrial relations mechanisms, and employers' obligations on collective redundancies, including a 30-day consultation period and notifying the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment at least 30 days before dismissals.
Deputy Parig Rice asked whether BIM would engage with workplace relations, underlining parliamentary concern and prompting clarification of legal and industrial-relations steps.
Redundancy and pay proposals
Paul Murphy set out that 53 BIM Music College workers face redundancy, with a small number potentially re-employed at less than half their previous hourly wage and others offered bogus self-employment or zero-hour contracts.
State funding and TU Dublin's connection
He highlighted that about 80% of the students are in BIM and paid for by the State through TU Dublin, saying the provision is effectively outsourced to BIM and arguing the State cannot wash its hands of the situation.
Call for engagement at the WRC
Murphy asked the Tánaiste to say that BIM should engage with the workers at the WRC, and argued TU Dublin should tell BIM to back off or else not continue with the arrangement.
Government reply on legal protections
The Tánaiste responded that the issue is distressing for those affected and noted BIM is a private provider. He emphasised strong employment rights, the use of industrial relations mechanisms, and employers' obligations on collective redundancies, including a 30-day consultation period and notifying the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment at least 30 days before dismissals.
Parliamentary interventions
Deputy Parig Rice asked whether BIM would engage with workplace relations, underlining parliamentary concern and prompting clarification of legal and industrial-relations steps.
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Transcript
Paul Murphy. Thanks. Teasheak, BIM Music College lecturers have been forced onto the picket lines. They face an incredible assault on their rights, 53 workers facing redundancy. A small number of them will be re-employed on less than half the hourly wage they were on before, and the rest will be faced with the choice of getting bogus self-employment on zero-hour contracts. This is part of the so-called uberisation of academic conditions. But, Teasheak, the State cannot wash its hands of what is happening here. About 80% of the students are in BIM and paid for by the State through TU Dublin, effectively outsourced to BIM. Teasheak, will you say that BIM should engage with the workers at the WRC, which they have failed to do up until now? Will you also say that the State cannot have contracts with a company that proceeds to treat workers so shoddily? TU Dublin should tell BIM to back off or else they will not be able to continue with this arrangement. First of all, I would say that this is an important distressing issue for those who are suffering as a result of this decision. Our main concern is for the employees of BIM, who are affected by these redundancies. It is very difficult for them. I think industrial relations mechanisms should be used, particularly to resolve issues between the Institute and its staff. It is a private provider of education, not a public provider. We have a very strong suite of employment rights in this country to protect and to support workers in redundancy situations. And employers must comply with a number of legal obligations when proposing collective redundancies, including the requirement to consult and provide information to employees and their representatives for a 30-day period before any notice of redundancy can issue. And they must also notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment of the proposals at least 30 days before the dismissal takes place. Deputy Parig Rice of the Social Democrats. I would ask if they would engage with workplace relations.