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THE LECTURERS AND management of BIMM Music Institute Dublin are working towards a resolution following the commencement of strike action against a preposed restructure earlier this month.
The proposed restructuring would have seen many existing lecture roles replaced by a small number of senior positions alongside freelance Associate Lecturer contracts.
The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) warned that the introduction of the proposed freelance model “removes job security, employment protections, and stable hours”. It would also result in earning reductions for lecturers, it said.
A letter sent by BIMM management to alumni and industry contacts at the time insisted that this was not the case.
Students of the institute, which has educated numerous Irish musicians including Grammy-nominated band Fontaines D.C. and The Murder Capital, have staged protests against the proposed restructuring.
Yesterday, BIMM and the IFUT announced that they are working towards a resolution.
In a statement by the IFUT, a representative said, “The overwhelming public support for a fair resolution to the BIMM dispute—from students, opposition TDs, other trade unions, and indeed, the Taoiseach himself—has been instrumental in driving progress.
“Since the commencement of industrial action last week, IFUT has engaged with key stakeholders, including TU Dublin, in pursuit of a just outcome.”
The spokesperson said that some “positive developments” have emerged from discussions, including that no roles will be made compulsorily redundant, and staff will be offered the opportunity to remain on their current contracts with the same terms they currently have.
In a separate press release, BIMM Dublin said that 20 lecturers will be offered permanent, salaried positions, and the remaining 33 lecturers will be offered the opportunity to remain on their current contracts with the same terms they currently enjoy.
“While these are important steps forward, significant issues remain unresolved,” the IFUT spokesperson continued.
Industrial action is continuing today, and IFUT has not revised plans for further action due to take place next week.
IFUT Assistant General Secretary Robert McNamara said that they are hopeful a resolution can be found, but that there are “key outstanding issues”.
“Our members have shown remarkable solidarity, and their determination has driven the progress made so far. However, we are not there yet.”
CEO & Vice-Chancellor at BIMM University David Jones-Owen said that the university has listened to concerns and questioned raise and hope changes made to the restructure will address them.
“Our lecturers are an incredibly important part of our community, acting as both teachers and mentors for our students. We remain committed to supporting them fully and now look forward to continuing discussions to find a resolution,” he said.
It does make you wonder, if the sand has taken back that much in nearly sixty years, how much from the Egyptian era is lost under the Sahara.
Surely the Kolmanskop of the Namib Desert is a well known haunt of your readers ,and this will not come as news to them.
Some ghost estate…….
Amazeballs!
That’s Longford.
Leithrim a close second
I was in Namibia this year such an amazing country. So many natural wonders there. Oldest plants. 2nd biggest canyons in the world, 2nd biggest Sand Dune in the world, linked to Victoria Falls and many more. Ethosa Safari Park was the best experience of my life.
This was on that BBC Science show with professor Brian Cox…. Interesting show!
The pictures are good, but to walk around it is really strange. It’s like they planned to return there was so much stuff left.
It’s a proven fact that deserts are living things and constantly moving and growing. Interesting stuff. Put into similar context, look at all the manors and castles in Ireland that have been taken back by Mother Nature over the centuries.
Amazeballs
Amazeballs
Balls of amazement.
Amazeballs
If they had only kept the doors closed……
Place looks fairly bate..
You’d look worse if you we’re left out in the desert for 60 years!!!
Wud be well exfoliated tho..:)
Amazeballs
Longford and Leitrim in 5 years!
dump
Namibia’s well worth a holiday. I didn’t make it to the ghost town, but Swakopmund, right on the coast, is beside some of the most breathtaking parts of the Namib Desert. Some of the world’s best oysters in those parts, too! Namibia is a weird country, due to their history of German colonialism, but it’s nevertheless rich in indigenous cultural diversity. Many would say the country benefited from it, others not. Thanks for the photos. They make me want to go back!
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