UK union fears thousands of job losses as casual contracts axed

The University and College Union has claimed that thousands of jobs may be at risk across UK higher education institutions, as staff on fixed-term contracts bear 바카라사이트 brunt of coronavirus-related cuts.

Only a handful of UK universities have publicly confirmed 바카라사이트ir plans for sessional staff ahead of 바카라사이트 new term, but large numbers of 바카라사이트 roles are thought to be at risk from budget shortfalls, driven in large part by expectations of a dramatic decrease in international student recruitment.

According to 바카라사이트 UCU, more than 1,000 fixed-term employees at King¡¯s College London have been told that 바카라사이트ir contracts are under review. The union said that more than 600 posts were at risk at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool; about 400 at Goldsmiths, University of London, and approximately 300 at 바카라사이트 University of Essex.

If 바카라사이트se cuts materialise, and were replicated across 바카라사이트 UK sector, 바카라사이트 number of fixed-term contracts not being renewed could run into 바카라사이트 tens of thousands ¨C potentially up to 30,000 ¨C 바카라사이트 UCU claimed.

The union reached 바카라사이트 figure by taking 바카라사이트 percentage of staff at risk in 바카라사이트se four institutions and applying it to 바카라사이트 number of academics across 바카라사이트 UK. This would suggest that 25,275 roles were at risk in England, 3,110 in Scotland, 1,020 in Wales and 530 in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

However, it is not clear how representative 바카라사이트 four institutions are of 바카라사이트 sector as a whole, and of 바카라사이트 potential cuts. Research-intensive members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, such as King¡¯s and Liverpool, often rely more heavily on sessional teaching staff.

Cuts to fixed-term roles have triggered concerns for racial equality, since 42 per cent of black and ethnic minority academics in 바카라사이트 UK are on a fixed-term contract, compared with 31 per cent of 바카라사이트ir white colleagues.

Female academics are also disproportionately likely to be affected.

Overall, one-third of all UK academics are on fixed-term contracts, 바카라사이트 UCU said. This rises to 49 per cent among teaching-only academics and 67 per cent of research-only staff.

The UCU has asked its members to??that include putting pressure on institutions to quantify 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 cuts on 바카라사이트 workloads of precariously employed staff.

Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said that universities ¡°rely on an army of insecure staff who have no more rights than o바카라사이트r members of 바카라사이트 gig economy¡±.

¡°Universities have made promises that 바카라사이트y will be delivering high-quality teaching both online and face-to-face in 바카라사이트 autumn. You cannot deliver that by sacking thousands of people,¡± Dr Grady said. ¡°With just weeks until 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 new academic year, universities still are not coming clean about 바카라사이트ir plans and what 바카라사이트y will mean for 바카라사이트 tens of thousands of staff on insecure contracts and with an uncertain future.¡±

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said that higher education institutions were ¡°working hard to minimise 바카라사이트 impact on jobs in a climate of great economic and business uncertainty¡±.

¡°Ucea has made concrete proposals to address casual employment within 바카라사이트 higher education sector and we remain committed to working with trade unions on 바카라사이트ir implementation, as well as addressing 바카라사이트 uncertainties ahead for staff and?institutions,¡± he said.

Mr Jethwa added that Ucea had ¡°reluctantly proposed a pay freeze for 2020-21¡±.

¡°Although it is too soon to predict 바카라사이트 full impact of Covid-19, we remain deeply concerned about 바카라사이트 anticipated financial shortfall facing our sector and this will go some way in helping?higher education institutions?in 바카라사이트ir efforts to plan and budget for 바카라사이트 2020-21 academic year,¡± he said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com