Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has expressed her support for lecturers at BIMM Music Institute as they oppose the college\u2019s plans to strip away secure teaching positions in favour of precarious freelance contracts.<\/p>\n
Deputy Cummins, who is the party\u2019s education spokesperson, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe proposed restructuring, which would see full-time educators replaced with part-time and casual roles, is unacceptable and risks harming both staff and students alike.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a blatant attack on fair employment standards in higher education. BIMM lecturers have dedicated years to providing high-quality education to students, yet they are now being pushed into insecure and poorly protected freelance positions.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo worker should be expected to accept precarious conditions while their employer benefits from their expertise and commitment.<\/p>\n
\u201cBIMM has played a key role in fostering Ireland\u2019s music industry, and its lecturers are central to that success. Undermining their job security and financial stability will not only impact staff but will also degrade the quality of education for students.<\/p>\n
\u201cA system that relies on precarious contracts cannot provide the consistency and high standard of teaching that students deserve.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis move is part of a worrying trend of insecure employment in the education sector. If we allow institutions to continue down this path, we risk turning teaching into a profession with no stability, no protections, and no future.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government must take a stand against the creeping casualisation of academic work.<\/p>\n
\u201cI urge BIMM to rethink these plans and engage in serious discussions with IFUT and affected lecturers. Fair pay and secure contracts should be a basic expectation for all educators.<\/p>\n
\u201cBIMM must show respect for its staff by ensuring they have the stability and recognition they deserve.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Social Democrats will continue to fight for fair employment conditions across all education institutions and call on the Government to act to prevent further erosion of workers’ rights in the sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
February 12, 2025<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has expressed her support for lecturers at BIMM Music Institute as they oppose the college\u2019s plans to strip away secure teaching positions in favour of precarious freelance contracts. Deputy Cummins, who is the party\u2019s education spokesperson, said: \u201cThe proposed restructuring, which would see full-time educators replaced with part-time and casual […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":11232,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[218,581,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-jen-cummins","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n