Lecturers at South East Technological University (SETU), who are members of the Waterford Branch of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI), are to stage a protest over what they say are "unsafe and deteriorating" working conditions.
The union said the dispute centres on the technological university's "failure" to implement an agreed "staff accommodation plan and timeline".
The TUI also said SETU must provide "quantifiable necessary improvements" to infrastructure in offices and teaching spaces.
The protest, which is due to take place this morning, will not affect the delivery of lectures to students.
However, the protest will see lecturers take to the entrances at the SETU Waterford campuses on the Cork Road and at the SETU campus on College Street.
A spokesperson for the SETU Waterford TUI Branch cited what they described as "unsafe and deteriorating" conditions in buildings across various campus locations that they say threaten the health and safety of its members.
They said the protest comes despite constructive engagement by the union with management.
In response, SETU said it recognises the "challenges" posed by "legacy infrastructure" across its campuses and it acknowledged the concerns raised by staff.
The technological university also said it is advancing a number of "strategically aligned capital development" projects.
A spokesperson said this includes the construction of a 13,000sq.m engineering, computing and general teaching building on the Cork Road campus.
They said: "When completed in 2028, this new facility will enable the planned relocation of activity currently based on the College Street Campus.
"In parallel, the approval and the design of the retrofit of the second floor of the Engineering and Science Building is under way, with a project timeline for these works already communicated to staff."
'Significant' Government funding secured for new facility
The spokesperson also said: "In addition, significant Government funding has been secured for a new 2,000sq.m facility at the Glassworks site, dedicated to pharmacy and veterinary medicine, together with a 1,000sq.m veterinary medicine education facility at Kildalton.
"Furthermore, approval has been given for the 10,000sq.m One Health Building at the Glassworks site to progress to the next stage of development.
"SETU remains committed to ongoing and active engagement with staff and their representative unions in relation to both current and future developments, as well as continuous maintenance and improvement of university infrastructure," the spokesperson added.
However, the spokesperson for the union said TUI members have reported years of neglect, underfunding, and lack of essential maintenance resulting in widespread issues, including leaking roofs, water damage, mould, unsatisfactory heating and ventilation systems, and deteriorating infrastructure.
The spokesperson added: "As a result, TUI members are expected to work in conditions that fall below health and safety standards. SETU Waterford staff and students deserve safe, dry, and healthy working conditions - not offices, teaching spaces, and corridors with buckets catching water from the ceiling, or years based in portacabins.
"Members have raised these concerns repeatedly, yet meaningful upgrades have been delayed or ignored. This is no longer acceptable.
"Union officers warn that persistent leaks and poor maintenance can lead to mould growth; poor air quality; structural damage; and increased health risks such as respiratory issues, allergies, and illness. In addition, ongoing unacceptable working conditions lead to workplace stress and negatively impact staff wellbeing.
"The protest calls on university management to take immediate action. The SETU Waterford Branch of TUI emphasises that this protest is about protecting staff, students, and the broader university community.
"Safe workplaces are not a luxury, they are a basic right. The branch intends to continue with protests until the matter is appropriately addressed," the TUI spokesperson concluded.
Branch members have said they intend to proceed with additional protests until their concerns have been appropriately addressed.
