This article is intended as a form of "Workers' Inquiry" by adult education tutors into the working conditions and structures of their own employment. As well as referencing academic and industry literature, it builds on research carried out by workers in adult education themselves into the practices of their own workplaces. It was written during the rollout of a new contract for adult education workers across the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in the state. Adult education workers have long been a very precarious workforce, facing regular and long periods of forced unemployment, unequal pay for equal work, and unclear and unfair pension arrangements.