深夜亚洲福利久久

Standing Up for Researchers: A Conversation with Miriam Hamilton, Deputy General Secretary of IFUT

21 Oct 2025

Meet Miriam Hamilton, Deputy General Secretary of the Irish Federation of 深夜亚洲福利久久 Teachers (IFUT), who brings a wealth of experience from representing workers across health, retail, manufacturing, and beyond. Miriam joined IFUT during the COVID-19 lockdown, stepping into the world of higher education determined to make a difference for staff and researchers alike.

鈥淚 wanted to bring a fresh perspective,鈥� she shares. 鈥淭o grow the union into a strong and visible force for workers in higher education.鈥�

As Deputy General Secretary, Miriam coordinates IFUT鈥檚 industrial relations strategy and represents the union at European and national levels. Her work includes advocating for fair policies on research funding, working conditions, and job security 鈥� issues close to every researcher鈥檚 heart.

Photo: Miriam Hamilton

UCC researchers, she explains, face unique challenges: individualised contracts, uncertainty about employment rights, and widespread precarity. Many researchers aren鈥檛 aware of their entitlements, such as the right to claim a Contract of Indefinite Duration (CID) after four years鈥� service 鈥� something IFUT has worked tirelessly to secure for more and more members.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a culture of acceptance around precarious work that needs to change,鈥� says Miriam. 鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing real success in UCC, not because the environment has changed, but because awareness among researchers has.鈥�

Through IFUT鈥檚 work, members receive vital individual support, collective representation via active branch committees like UCC鈥檚, and sector-wide advocacy. IFUT is tackling issues such as the inappropriate use of fixed-term contracts, the lack of research career frameworks, and ensuring salary progression reflects experience 鈥� so researchers aren鈥檛 forced to start on the lowest pay point every time they move between projects.

The IFUT Researchers Sub-Committee has evolved into the Precarious Employment Campaign Steering Group, keeping a laser focus on job security for researchers and hourly-paid staff. IFUT also works closely with the Irish Research Staff Association (RSA), sharing expertise to advance both employment rights and research policy.

Beyond negotiations and campaigns, Miriam highlights a less obvious but equally important benefit of IFUT membership: solidarity.

鈥淪ome members have told me they find a sense of collegiality within IFUT that鈥檚 missing elsewhere,鈥� she says. 鈥淪haring best practice, learning from each other, and rolling out progressive agreements across institutions 鈥� that鈥檚 the power of collective action.鈥�

Yet she acknowledges challenges remain: 鈥淭rade union membership among researchers is the lowest in higher education. I understand why 鈥� lack of job security, fear, constant mobility 鈥� but strong unions are the only way we can challenge poor employment practices.鈥�

Miriam鈥檚 message is clear: 鈥淚 would just encourage people to get involved in the RSA, to get involved with the UCC branch committee, to get involved in the union.鈥�

UCCRSA tends to align closely with IFUT given our shared priorities. In fact UCCRSA have signed an MOU with IFUT to strengthen this partnership. Finally, UCCRSA would like to wish Miriam every success in her role as Deputy General Secretary of IFUT.