'Temporary contracts harmful to science'
Temporary contracts with poor conditions at the university make the work very difficult for researchers and lecturers, according to a report by the Casual Leiden action group. The increase in the number of temporary contracts is the AOb a thorn in the eye.
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Researchers and teachers are so worried about their future that they are going to die, says the national action group Casual Academy in a investigation report that appeared last week.
The number of temporary contracts at universities is growing and the action group warns of the damage these cause to the quality of research and academic freedom. The action group recorded 28 stories from anonymous lecturers and researchers working at Utrecht University, University of Amsterdam, VU University, Erasmus University, Leiden University and the University of Groningen.
The increase in the number of temporary contracts is the AOb a eyesore. “Structural work includes a permanent contract,” says AObnegotiator Donald Pechler.
Lack of perspective
On average, the interviewees worked on temporary contracts for five and a half years. Some have to enter one temporary contract after another for twelve years to continue working in academia.
The lack of perspective breaks the academics, the stories say. Respondents talk about sleepless nights, persistent anxiety attacks and physical complaints.
Colleague burnouts ironically lead to job opportunities
Researchers with a teaching task indicate that they work structurally unpaid overtime for relatively low wages. Some worked twice as many hours last year to get to their research. Many teachers have to combine mini-jobs of sometimes one day a week to make ends meet.
The excessive stress that results from this causes burnouts. Ironically, these lead to job opportunities again, the report shows. One interviewee reported that he was twice offered a temporary contract because others had dropped out due to burnout complaints.
Save money
The human resources department often balks at employees to save money, according to the report. Respondents report being given positions that do not officially exist so that they can be placed in lower salary scales. The department also forced them not to give too many lectures or attract research grants because they would have to get a permanent contract, for which there would be no money.
Some employees are in a 'revolving door construction'. They are out of work for months before being able to get a temporary appointment again. One teacher, for example, was forced to continue providing unpaid lectures and tutorials for three months between contracts for fear of overloading his or her colleagues.
According to the report, the position of the interviewees is so vulnerable that academic freedom is also under pressure. "How can you criticize someone who determines your future?" one of them said.
All this means that many talented people are leaving science, fears action group Casual Academy, which wants to use the report to create awareness in the run-up to a better collective labor agreement. In the previous collective labor agreement, steps have already been taken for professors, assistant professors and support functions. bad luck from the AOb: “Now we would like to extend that to teachers and researchers. They also deserve the prospect of a permanent contract if they perform well.”
De AOb is pushing for more permanent jobs.
