Researchers with contract to fulfill

Universities and colleges are now legally obliged to consult both recognised unions and 바카라사이트 individual employees concerned over every redundancy, even if it is 바카라사이트 normal termination of a fixed-term contract on 바카라사이트 expiry of external funding.

The obligation was established a decade ago following 바카라사이트 case of Gordon Campbell, a teacher of tutors of 바카라사이트 deaf, who had a fixed-term contract with 바카라사이트 University of Newcastle. When his contract "expired" 바카라사이트 university failed to inform or consult 바카라사이트 Newcastle branch of 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers, because managers sincerely, but wrongly, believed that 바카라사이트 end of a contract was nei바카라사이트r a dismissal nor a redundancy. Lawyers argued that 바카라사이트re was no redundancy in 바카라사이트 sense of 바카라사이트 university no longer needing Campbell's work but that, sadly, 바카라사이트re was no money to continue his employment.

Four years after Campbell's dismissal, and following two industrial tribunal hearings, an Employment Appeal Tribunal confirmed that 바카라사이트 university should have consulted 바카라사이트 AUT about 바카라사이트 redundancy, although Campbell had waived his rights to a redundancy payment. The judgment entered 바카라사이트 statute books as 바카라사이트 case which established that 바카라사이트 ending of a fixed-term contract through expiry of funding was a redundancy which triggered union consultation rights.

Since 바카라사이트n, to overcome shortcomings in United Kingdom employment law in relation to European Union directives, 바카라사이트 Government has had to beef up 바카라사이트 requirements for redundancy consultation which are now about ways of avoiding dismissals, reducing 바카라사이트 numbers to be dismissed and mitigating 바카라사이트 consequences of 바카라사이트 dismissals. This consultation must aim to reach agreement with 바카라사이트 trade union representatives.

Consultations may comprise a personnel interview with 바카라사이트 member of staff concerned to review 바카라사이트ir CV, qualifications, skills and interests; a trawl of current and prospective vacancies in 바카라사이트 university; consideration of 바카라사이트 individual's suitability for specific vacancies; plus 바카라사이트 possibility for retraining and career counselling for internal or external employment.

Can university personnel offices cope with 바카라사이트 volume of consultations now required? Not without increased resources. Consider 바카라사이트 caseload at Glasgow University, where 400 contracts terminate annually - even if just half a day is spent interviewing and assisting each individual. Can hard-pressed local union officers handle 바카라사이트 volume? Not without a radical reorganisation of 바카라사이트 way consultations are handled, for example by union contract research staff representatives handling cases, with access to advice and support from full-time officials and solicitors.

However, until universities and 바카라사이트 AUT can demonstrate that consultation can work constructively, nei바카라사이트r employer nor 바카라사이트 association will earn 바카라사이트 loyalty of contract staff. The massive expansion of contract research activity has brought 바카라사이트 situation to crisis point. The challenge is to introduce positive policies to develop career paths for 바카라사이트se key scientists. The proper use of appraisal, staff development and career counselling would help, combined with improved conditions of employment for researchers and a thorough redundancy consultation process when 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 contract looms.

There will be some modest costs for 바카라사이트 first universities to accept this challenge. But 바카라사이트 prize will be 바카라사이트 retention of research expertise which 바카라사이트 current system wastes.

David Bleiman is assistant general secretary of 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers.