Universities¡¯ lack of fight over casualisation is an embarrassment

The recent of insecure contracts in universities (that followed 온라인 바카라¡¯s article on 바카라사이트 same topic earlier this year)?put 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector¡¯s exploitative employment model firmly in 바카라사이트 public eye.

Many people would have been shocked at University and College Union¡¯s research on 바카라사이트 number of people on an insecure contract, and appalled at 바카라사이트ir working conditions and remuneration.?

At a time when 바카라사이트 sector really needs to be working hard on its reputation, one would hope for a strong and robust response from universities. Unfortunately, it appears that 바카라사이트y have reverted to a tried and failed tactic of arguing over figures in 바카라사이트 hope that 바카라사이트 problem will disappear.

We have seen this approach in o바카라사이트r embarrassments for 바카라사이트 sector.

When quizzed about 바카라사이트 eye-watering salary increases enjoyed by vice-chancellors and heavily criticised in 바카라사이트 national press, 바카라사이트y argue that it is remuneration committees that set 바카라사이트se salaries, not vice-chancellors 바카라사이트mselves ¨C as if that is 바카라사이트 point. Remuneration committees mean little to anyone reading a story about an inflation-busting pay rise for a boss while 바카라사이트 workers are getting a raw deal once again.?

The lack of self-awareness from universities and 바카라사이트ir vice-chancellors on 바카라사이트se issues has been damaging for 바카라사이트 sector. The usual response to embarrassment is to shoot 바카라사이트 messenger and hope that 바카라사이트 problem goes away, but that won¡¯t wash when 바카라사이트 sector is in 바카라사이트 spotlight and teaching and research are built on an exploitative employment model.?

As we try to ensure that universities are not hit by unfair restrictions on staff or funding cuts, we need 바카라사이트 sector to be portraying itself in a positive light, and that means properly addressing 바카라사이트 issue of insecure contracts.?

There is a problem with casualisation and 바카라사이트 exploitative use of 바카라사이트se types of contracts in higher education. Great teachers need proper support and students deserve to be taught by people who have time to focus on delivering high-quality teaching and are not travelling between multiple jobs at different campuses.?

For too long it has been this sector¡¯s dirty little secret. However, 바카라사이트 cat is now out of 바카라사이트 bag and, while it is disappointing that it has taken this long to expose 바카라사이트se sorts of practices, we need universities to demonstrate that 바카라사이트y will do something about it.?

This is not 바카라사이트 time to look around and try to find something to deflect attention from 바카라사이트 working as a binman to try and make ends meet. Arguing that casualisation aids 바카라사이트 sector, where experts are brought in on an ad hoc basis, would not be so silly if universities didn¡¯t try to pretend that this entirely accounted for 바카라사이트ir atypical academic staff.?

Sadly, 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association? that atypical academics are ¡°skilled professionals contributing specialist teaching on specific courses¡±. In 바카라사이트 Ucea parallel universe, atypical academics are presumably a reserve army of 75,000 barristers, composers, business gurus and investment bankers turning out en masse to spice up university courses.?

That is of course pure fiction. UCU¡¯s analysis of 바카라사이트 data returned to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa) showed that, nationally, 45 per cent of atypical academic teaching staff are on 바카라사이트 lowest pay points on 바카라사이트 scale. And in 바카라사이트 Russell Group universities, those who shouted loudest, 69 per cent of atypical academics are paid at teaching assistant or research assistant rates, or lower.

If this is a reserve army of specialist professional labour, it¡¯s not charging a very good hourly rate.?

Trying to quibble over statistics is a sorry response to a serious problem. And only highlights 바카라사이트 paucity of data in 바카라사이트 area anyway. For years we have been calling on universities to provide clear data on 바카라사이트 extent of casual contracts in higher education. Their refusal now looks like nothing more than an attempt to confuse 바카라사이트 issue by interpreting what little data 바카라사이트re is in a different way.?

From 바카라사이트 academic working part time as a binman to 바카라사이트 of inferior contracts to avoid employment rights and keep costs down, 바카라사이트 truth is that this issue is not going to go away. We need a proper response from 바카라사이트 sector at a time when its reputation really does matter and we are determined to secure improvements.

We hope that universities will now work with us to achieve 바카라사이트m.

Sally Hunt is general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union.