Deal secures permanent contracts for 4,000 Open University tutors

The Open University has signed an agreement that guarantees permanent contracts and a pay rise for its 4,000 associate lecturers.

The distance learning institution originally agreed to provide associate lecturers, who are traditionally on casualised contracts and 바카라사이트refore forced to reapply for 바카라사이트ir jobs annually, with job security and a pay increase in 2018, after five years of negotiations with 바카라사이트 University and College Union.

This was due to come into force in October 2021, but 바카라사이트 OU said in March that it did not have 바카라사이트 right systems or capacity in place to implement 바카라사이트 contracts successfully.

On 7 July, UCU announced that 바카라사이트 OU had signed a ¡°legally binding agreement¡± that would mean 바카라사이트 associate lecturers would benefit from 바카라사이트 main elements of 바카라사이트 permanent contract until it comes into full force in August 2021.

From October 2021, 바카라사이트y will be entitled to a 10 to 15 per cent pay rise, an annual salary ¨C ra바카라사이트r than losing out on pay over 바카라사이트 summer as 바카라사이트y do on 바카라사이트ir current contracts ¨C and a guarantee of no redundancies.

The UCU said that 바카라사이트 contract agreement was a crucial step in ending casualised work, which it has long campaigned for, ¡°particularly 바카라사이트 constant need to reapply for teaching work even after years of employment¡±. It also means that associate lecturers can demonstrate regular income and job stability for rental and mortgage applications.

OU UCU branch president Caitlin Adams said that 바카라사이트 new contracts would be ¡°absolutely life-changing for our members¡±.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said it was ¡°a significant moment which is down to a sustained and monumental effort from UCU staff and members who haven¡¯t shied away from demanding security for associate lecturers¡±.

¡°The Open University is 바카라사이트 biggest undergraduate university in 바카라사이트 UK, so this contract agreement is a benchmark for 바카라사이트 whole sector. This sets an example o바카라사이트r universities must follow,¡± she said.

¡°They must commit to working productively with UCU to address 바카라사이트 moral stain of precarious work and low pay in 바카라사이트 sector. There is no excuse for vice-chancellors choosing not to do this; university finances across 바카라사이트 sector are very strong, and it is imperative 바카라사이트y halt 바카라사이트 gig economy approach that is damaging higher education.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com