Speaking before the Joint Oireachtas Committee this morning, IFUT General Secretary Frank Jones stated: the only way to guarantee fair terms for Doctoral Candidates is to recognise them as workers, grant employee status, and require collective bargaining — locally or sectorally — with trade unions.

🗓 Money Under the Microscope 📅 5 February ⏰ 11.00am A free, practical webinar for IFUT members focusing on understanding and managing your finances. 🔗 Register here: cornmarket.newsweaver.com/IFUTMoneyUnd...

The IFUT Executive, gathered today for a strategy session, sends its full solidarity to the @Covalen workers and the @cwuireland.bsky.social in their strike for fair pay, secure employment and respect at work. An injury to one is an injury to all. ✊ #Solidarity #CovalentStrike #CWU #TradeUnion

The IFUT Executive, gathered today for a strategy session, sends its full solidarity to the @Covalen workers and the @cwuireland.bsky.social in their strike for fair pay, secure employment and respect at work. An injury to one is an injury to all. ✊ #Solidarity #CovalentStrike #CWU #TradeUnion

Great to meet @LauraHarmanTD (Labour Party) to discuss staff voice and trade union representation in university governance — a key omission in the HEA Act. Our delegation: Paul Gavan (ICTU), Frank Jones (IFUT), Edward Lahiff (UCC) & John Walsh (TCD). #HEAAct #IFUT #HigherEd #Governance

"Since October, 2023, all university campuses in Gaza have been subject to intensive bombing, with dozens of buildings completely destroyed and many more irreparably damaged." www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...

““Standing up for researchers” is more than a slogan—it’s IFUT’s mission. Miriam Hamilton shares how the union is tackling precarity in Irish HE. 📖 Read: www.ucc.ie/en/rsa/newss... #ResearcherRights #IFUT #HigherEd #UnionStrong

IFUT welcomes the budget, which features a reduction in student fees— a positive step for students and families — but calls for urgent, sustained investment to properly fund higher education. 👉 ifut.ie/content/ifut... #HigherEd #EducationFunding #IFUT

Based on our report into global higher education for @eduinternational.bsky.social. This work by @ifut.bsky.social members at Maynooth University was fantastic.

📢 IFUT Pre-Budget Submission 2026 is out. Ireland’s higher education system is at breaking point. We’re calling for: ✅ €307m funding uplift ✅ Secure academic jobs ✅ A national sectoral forum ✅ PhD & career pathway reform 🔗 www.ifut.ie/content/ifut... #Budget2026 #HigherEd

Great to see John from the @IFUT_TCD branch presenting at the Trinity College induction day 📚👏 Joining IFUT means standing together for fairness, respect & better conditions in higher education. 👉 Apply here: www.ifut.ie/content/memb... #IFUT #UnionStrong #HigherEd

✊ School secretaries & caretakers are not “second-class staff.” They keep our schools running and deserve equal rights. IFUT stands with @forsatradeunion.bsky.social in their fight for fairness. Solidarity across the movement. 👉 www.ifut.ie/content/no-s...

📢 IFUT continues to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and protection of education. Hundreds of schools & universities destroyed. Thousands of students & academics killed. A generation’s future at risk. 🔗 ifut.ie/content/gaza-education-crisis-ihra-definition

📣 Ireland has no legal right to union recognition/collective bargaining. Hits precarious workers inc those in higher education hardest. ✍️petition: respectatwork.ie #RespectAtWork @forsatradeunion.bsky.social @siptu.bsky.social @tuiunion.bsky.social @astiunion.bsky.social @intonews.bsky.social

At the 2025 ICTU Biennial Delegate Conference, IFUT President Dr Michael Hinds moved a powerful motion on the urgent need for public investment in higher education and protection for the wellbeing of educators. Solidarity means action—before it’s too late. #ICTUBDC2025 #AcademicFreedom #Precarity

🏘️❗️The housing crisis affects us all—and hits workers hardest. The #RaiseTheRoof rally calls for emergency action to address homelessness and unaffordable rents. 📍 Leinster House, Dublin 🗓 June 17 | ⏰ 6pm Join the call for dignity and housing justice. #HousingCrisis #RaiseTheRoof

Our General Secretary @frank-jones123.bsky.social is attending the @eisunion.bsky.social 179th AGM in Aviemore. Great to hear our Scottish colleagues reflect on the past year—and look ahead to the next. Solidarity across borders! ✊📚 #EISAGM #UnionSolidarity #Education

IFUT & AMLÉ have signed a historic MoU, formalising solidarity between staff & students in higher ed. United by shared values, we’ll campaign together for dignity, equity & publicly funded education. As allies, we’re stronger. #EducationForAll #Solidarity #IFUT #AMLÉ

On June 4th, ICTU is organising a national moment of reflection to mark the UN Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. This includes a reflection on the impact of conflict on children, including in Gaza. A one-minute pause will take place at 1:05 PM. #UNDay #4June #Gaza #ICTU

📢 Did you know IFUT is the only union in Ireland exclusively organising workers in Higher Education? Whether you're a lecturer, tutor, researcher, librarian or TA—IFUT is here to protect your rights 💪 Join us: www.ifut.ie Because together, we are stronger #HigherEd #IFUT #AcademicWork #UnionStrong

Very concerning, full clarity required! www.independent.ie/irish-news/i...

We’ve hit 500 responses – help us reach 1,000. IFUT’s national survey on academic work is live. We’re gathering voices from across Higher Education to campaign for job security, fair workloads & better conditions. www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWJKQDH Have your say. Share widely #HigherEd #UnionStrong

That's a wrap from #IFUTADC2025 Don't forget to take our Academic Matters - What's changed survey! www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWJKQDH

Prof Michael Hinds, incoming @ifut President for the next two years, addresses ADC today with a strong message of solidarity and renewal. We look forward to his leadership. #IFUTADC #UnionLeadership #Solidarity

General Secretary Frank Jones presents outgoing IFUT President, Prof Emma Sokell, with a commemorative scroll and presidential badge in recognition of her outstanding service. A fitting close to a powerful ADC focused on Trade Union Renewal and the future of academic unionism. #IFUTADC2025

General Secretary Frank Jones presents outgoing IFUT President, Prof Emma Sokell, with a commemorative scroll and presidential badge in recognition of her outstanding service. A fitting close to a powerful ADC focused on Trade Union Renewal and the future of academic unionism. #IFUTADC2025

General Secretary Frank Jones presented a token of appreciation to Fiona Lee, Assistant General Secretary, on the occasion of her retirement.

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed #IFUTADC2025

Motion Passed!

Motion 2: Pay Transparency Recent RCSI Gender Pay-gap Reports have consistently identified those grades that have individually negotiated salaries or individual bonus payments, as having the greatest levels of pay inequality.

Motion Passed! Motion 1: Precarity This ADC recognises an increase in the number of Researcher categories across HEIs where there is a lack of transparency surrounding pay scales and their alignment to national pay agreements.

At #IFUTADC2025, DR Michelle O'Sullivan @unioflimerick.bsky.social made the case for trade union renewal—linking strong unions to workplace fairness, occupational control, and democratic health. The opportunity is clear: renewal means relevance, power, and protection for the next generation.

📉 “Union density is falling and free riding is rising”—Prof. John Geary at #IFUTADC2025. But he sees opportunity: 📈 Young and female workers are open to unions that stand for justice and fairness. The path to union renewal is there—if we take it. #UnionRenewal #ZeroPrecarity #Solidarity

Miriam Hamilton - IFUT is delivering, campus by campus, system-wide. ✅ CIDs, back pay, salaried conversions ✅ Sectoral pension dispute at WRC ✅ BIMM win showed our industrial power ✅ Local bargaining in action across HEIs

📢 Frank Jones at #IFUTADC2025: 💥 IFUT membership up 50% in 10 years. 🎯 Goal: repeat that growth by 2030. 🌐 New member-focused website launching soon. 📊 1,000+ responses targeted in the precarity survey—let’s hit it.