MAYNOOTH’S NEW STRATEGIC PLAN FACES PROTESTS BY POSTGRADUATE WORKERS
On Tuesday this week, members of the Postgraduate Worker’s Organisation (The largest Postgraduate union in Ireland boasting well over 1000 members) protested the launch of Maynooth’s New Strategic Plan by the university’s president. This is part of recent escalations nationwide by the union, which has balloted across universities in support of Collective Action. It has proven itself a militant union in its actions, rapidly growing since the merger between PhDs’ Collective Action Union (PCAU) and the Postgraduate Workers Alliance Ireland (PGWAI).
MAYNOOTH UNIVERSITY “SYSTEMATICALLY EXCLUDES” STAFF FROM KEY DECISIONS IN TREND TOWARDS COMMERCIALISATION
By Steph Collins and Naoise McManus
Steph Collins and Naoise McManus are both socialists, students and members of S4C (Students4Change) at Maynooth University. Steph Collins is a member of CATU and organiser with S4C Maynooth. Naoise McManus is a member of the Socialist Party and also involved with S4C.
In recent weeks the Maynooth University executive staff have come under fire over their recent decision to appoint internal members to the governing authority rather than elect them as has been the case in years gone by. The provision for appointing internal members to the governing authorities of universities was included under part 10 of the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 which amends the previously applicable 1997 Universities Act.
STAND WITH PALESTINE
The following statement has been written by the editorial committee of Aontacht Media with the consultation of individuals involved with organising for Palestine.
The editorial committee of Aontacht Media stands with the people of Palestine at this hour. The Israeli government has called for the immediate evacuation of all Palestinians in northern Gaza. This would require the evacuation of 1.1 million civilians in one of the most densely packed areas on earth, it would involve thousands of injured civilians being taken out of Gaza’s biggest hospital. This is a war-crime. Israel’s indiscriminate attacking of civilians in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of children, who make up the majority of the Gazan population.