Students at one of the country's top music colleges will stage a protest tomorrow over a proposed redundancy plan for their lecturers.
BIMM Music Institute Dublin, where the band members of Fontaines D.C. met, is planning on reducing its workforce by around a third.
Lecturers at the college must reapply for teaching roles under a restructuring plan, which union representatives have described as the "Uber-isation of lecturers".
In a notification letter to Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke sent earlier this month, BIMM said there are 135 employees normally employed at the music college, and 53 are at risk of redundancy.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost Louise Jackson said: "It is currently proposed, subject to the outcome of consultations, that approximately 35 roles will be made redundant in the Head of School (Academic Delivery) department".
She told the minister that the college is "introducing more secure but fewer contracts, which offer greater stability for all parties".
The Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT), which is representing staff, claims the new senior lecturer and freelance roles offer inferior terms and conditions.
Union official Robert McNamara has called for "immediate and meaningful engagement" with BIMM about the ongoing redundancy process and has accused management of failing to meet its statutory obligations under the Protection of Employment Act 1977.
He said a claim by Ms Jackson in her ministerial correspondence that staff had decided not to elect employee representatives was "wildly inaccurate".
The IFUT is holding a ballot on taking industrial action, including strike action, tomorrow.
Students at the music college will also stage a protest over the proposed cuts, saying a reduction in staff will affect the quality of the courses.
In a statement, student representatives said: "We are organising protests and supporting strike action [by lecturers] to ensure our voices are heard and to push for a solution that protects both the rights of staff and our education".
They said their lecturers' "expertise and commitment" cannot be replaced
"This is not just an issue for the staff it is an issue that affects every single one of us who relies on our lecturers for not only educational reasons but as mentors too.
"We urge the administration to reconsider these decisions".
A petition has been set up by students saying their lecturers are "the heart and soul of our education and the music industry".
The students said the college is "renowned for its intimate teaching environment and hands-on lecturers, many of whom have real-world professional experience".
In a statement to RTÉ news this evening, BIMM said: "We are currently consulting with lecturers following feedback we've received from students in which they have asked for greater staff availability, a more engaged and accessible teaching workforce and improved opportunities for networking.
"This is in direct response to student needs as we look to enhance their learning."
Management of the music college said it is proposing the creation of 18 senior lecturer positions and "the remaining lecturers will be offered the opportunity to be associate lecturers".
The statement added that the structure of the new roles "ensures that associate lecturers receive at least the equivalent rate per session as they currently earn".
The college explained it has written to students today to tell them that ensuring students and staff have the best learning and teaching environment is its number one priority and all decisions are based on this.
The BIMM Press Office said it believes the "proposed model will bring clarity to academic roles and responsibilities, with all staff aligned to shared core accountabilities, further strengthening the learning experience".
