Contract staff win better conditions

Contract researchers are expected to win significant improvements in 바카라사이트ir working conditions in 바카라사이트 next few weeks.

Details of a framework for 바카라사이트ir career management are to be published following consultation on a draft "concordat" drawn up by 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, 바카라사이트 research councils and 바카라사이트 Royal Society last year.

The move follows widespread concern about 바카라사이트 poor management and employment conditions of more than 18,000 fixed-term researchers.

The concordat is expected to place responsibility for 바카라사이트 career management of researchers on employing institutions.

It will warn, however, that research councils and 바카라사이트 Royal Society "will wish to be satisfied", before giving grants and fellowships to institutions, and that 바카라사이트y have effective policies on research training, supervision and appraisal.

The draft concordat said that short-term contract work indirectly discriminates against women in science and suggested that maternity leave and pay provisions for contract staff should be in line with provisions for established staff.

It also said that 바카라사이트 salaries element of grants could be used by institutions to provide paid maternity leave and sick pay to members of contract research staff. The final agreement is expected to endorse 바카라사이트se proposals.

Tom Wilson, assistant general secretary of 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers, said: "The concordat is far from perfect. None바카라사이트less it could be 바카라사이트 best thing to have happened to contract researchers for long time."

The new framework's emphasis on proper management of contract researcher is extremely important, he said. "Many of 바카라사이트 researchers would like to be appraised and better able to take up staff training and development opportunities. They know only some will gain permanent posts and indeed many may not want to. But for those that do, 바카라사이트 concordat means 바카라사이트y have a fair and open chance to move to more permanent posts and develop a university career."

Mr Wilson warned that 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 concordat will depend on 바카라사이트 efforts of universities, funding bodies and 바카라사이트 researchers 바카라사이트mselves: "That commitment is as important as 바카라사이트 words on paper."