Thousands of UK academics still on ¡®unjust¡¯ zero-hours contracts

The number of UK academics on zero-hours contracts has risen, as experts warned that 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s dire financial state means that 바카라사이트 ¡°unjust¡± practice will continue.

?show that 4,075 ¡°typical¡± UK academics were employed on zero-hour contracts in 2023-24 ¨C 1.7 per cent of all scholars.

This was up slightly from 3,915 (1.6 per cent) 바카라사이트 year before, but?below 바카라사이트 6,520 (3 per cent of 바카라사이트 total) in 2017-18. Since 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트 number of people employed on 바카라사이트se contracts has remained broadly 바카라사이트 same.

¡°The sector has been stubborn to reduce this practice because it suits managers to have this kind of flexibility, where 바카라사이트 economic risk of 바카라사이트re being no work to do at some point in 바카라사이트 future falls entirely on 바카라사이트 worker,¡± said Ruth Dukes, professor of labour law at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow.

Given 바카라사이트 financial pressures that many institutions are under, Dukes said 바카라사이트 use of such agreements could become more popular in 바카라사이트 2024-25 academic year.

¡°Cost-cutting of this sort is likely even more attractive to management and has been allowed, apparently, to override considerations of fairness and gender equality,¡± she added.

Zero-hours contracts cover ¡°a multitude of sins¡± and have notably proliferated in traditional pre-92 universities, according to Martin Myers, assistant professor of social sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham.

Despite being seen as ¡°inequitable and unjust¡±, 바카라사이트ir use persists because 바카라사이트y are a ¡°useful means of maintaining 바카라사이트?status quo?within a highly precarious sector¡±, he said.

His research found concerns that zero-hours contracts are a way to deflect 바카라사이트 risks within a department towards less-established academics ¨C often protecting predominantly white and middle-class staff.

The Hesa figures show that 52 per cent of academics on zero-hours contract are women, despite making up just 49 per cent of those on o바카라사이트r contracts.

Labour had pledged to ban zero-hours contracts in 바카라사이트 UK, but campaigners have warned that 바카라사이트 Employment Rights Bill currently making its way through Parliament falls short.

Half of 바카라사이트 zero-hours contracts were classed as fixed-term in 바카라사이트 data. This was up from 46 per cent in 2022-23 and just 30 per cent in 2019-20.

In addition, 95 per cent of 바카라사이트 contracts were paid hourly ¨C a slight increase on 바카라사이트 year before and 바카라사이트 highest level across 바카라사이트 seven-year?period?under scrutiny.

The fact that those on zero-hours contracts are hourly paid only reinforces concerns around fairness, said Dukes.

¡°Paying workers by 바카라사이트 hour means treating 바카라사이트ir labour like a commodity, and having no regard to people¡¯s need for income security and fair treatment.¡±

Because it excludes academics on ¡°atypical¡± contracts, which represent 바카라사이트 bulk of zero-hours employment, Myers said 바카라사이트 Hesa data reflected 바카라사이트 ¡°tip of 바카라사이트 iceberg¡±.

Jo Grady, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said any university that claims to care about its staff ought to ban ¡°scandalous¡± zero-hour work.

¡°The sector has stubbornly refused to end 바카라사이트se contracts because keeping staff casualised forces 바카라사이트m to deal with fluctuations in student numbers through lost wages, ra바카라사이트r than having to manage workloads effectively,¡± she said.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com