Waterford votes to strike over merger plans

Academic staff at the Waterford Institute of Technology who are members of the Teachers Union of Ireland have mandated strike action to oppose plans for a forced merger with the Institute of Technology Carlow.

The government plans to create a number of technological universities involving the merger of existing universities and institutes of technology. In some regions such as the south-west and north-west the move has been welcomed. It will create university status for the institutes which have long sought such a change.

Waterford however seeks university status in its own right and has resisted moves encouraging it to merge with Carlow.