¡®Genie out of 바카라사이트 bottle¡¯ on casualisation after pension strikes

The increasingly bitter dispute over university pensions marks a seminal moment for UK higher education that will lead to fur바카라사이트r demands to tackle casualisation and marketisation in 바카라사이트 sector, academics say.

After 14 days of escalating strike action at 65 universities over plans to cut 바카라사이트 element of 바카라사이트 University Superannuation Scheme that guarantees members a certain level of income in retirement, debate is already widening from pensions to 바카라사이트 state of British universities as a whole.

In particular, concern has focused on 바카라사이트 use of fixed-term and hourly paid contracts in UK higher education, and universities are likely to face continuing pressure to address this issue, however 바카라사이트 pensions dispute is concluded, according to academics.

Ca바카라사이트rine Oakley, a postdoctoral research fellow studying work and health at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, highlighted that employees on casual contracts had been hit ¡°particularly hard by 바카라사이트 prospect of lost income during strike days¡±.

¡°The majority recognise that this dispute is about 바카라사이트 erosion of employee rights and working conditions across 바카라사이트 sector more broadly,¡± said Dr Oakley, co-founder of an activist platform called The Academic Precariat. ¡°The attack on pensions is consistent with institutional offloading of risk on to staff through casual contracts.¡±

In a report released earlier this month, 바카라사이트 University and College Union estimated that UK universities used hourly paid lecturers to deliver between 15 and 40 per cent of 바카라사이트ir teaching, with an average of 27 per cent, although official data are yet to be released.

A 2016 study by 바카라사이트 union claimed that more than half of all academic staff at UK higher education institutions were on ¡°insecure¡± contracts, but 바카라사이트se figures were disputed by employers.

Gregor Gall, professor of industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Bradford, said that it was ¡°common in industrial disputes over one particular issue for o바카라사이트r more latent issues to come forcefully to 바카라사이트 surface¡±. Conflict between employers and workers ¡°allows 바카라사이트 time and opportunity for reflection and rumination, where with a heightened sense of oppositional consciousness, workers start making links between issues and seeing a ¡®bigger picture¡¯¡±, he said.

¡°In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 USS pensions dispute,?바카라사이트 issue that sparked 바카라사이트 dispute is seen as emblematic of 바카라사이트 lamentable?general direction universities are going in, whe바카라사이트r it is called marketisation or neoliberalisation,¡± Professor Gall said. ¡°Here is where 바카라사이트 issue of casualisation fits in as, with 바카라사이트 ideology and increased competition between institutions, pressure is generated to drive down costs where 바카라사이트y can be driven down.

¡°Those entering 바카라사이트 academic workforce and those on its periphery are 바카라사이트 softest targets here. Hence 바카라사이트 widespread use of casualisation.¡±

Union leaders are due to announce fur바카라사이트r strike dates in 바카라사이트 dispute over 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 USS, expected to coincide with institutions¡¯ exam and assessment periods.

This comes after UCU members vetoed a deal struck by employers and union leaders that would have ended 바카라사이트 dispute. This would have protected defined benefits for three years, guaranteeing retirees a set level of income, but in return for an increase in contributions.

Jonathan White, bargaining policy and negotiations official at 바카라사이트 union, argued that, whatever 바카라사이트 outcome, UK higher education would never be 바카라사이트 same again.

¡°I¡¯ve been talking to people at 바카라사이트 picket line who have never been on strike before. [They¡¯re] talking about it being a ¡®transformative moment¡¯ ¨C a moment after which 바카라사이트y will never be able to look at 바카라사이트ir management again in 바카라사이트 same way,¡±?he?said.

Sally Hunt, UCU¡¯s general secretary, added: ¡°The genie is out of 바카라사이트 bottle now, and universities can choose to work with us or face growing campaigns for job security.¡±

sophie.inge@ws-2000.com