UvA no longer wants revolving door teachers
The University of Amsterdam wants to give all starting teachers a temporary appointment for four years and the more experienced teachers a permanent contract. “There was no decent teaching policy,” says UvA president Geert ten Dam.
Picture: Type tank
Last autumn, Ten Dam and HR director Robert Grem concluded that the number of temporary teachers without research tasks had grown enormously in a short period of time, they say.
The rapidly increasing student numbers played a role, but also the use of NPO funds to make up for corona arrears among students. “We then said to each other: this cannot go on any longer, these teachers are not just for 'peak and sick'. If they make up such a substantial proportion of UvA employees, then you have to conduct a decent personnel policy. And that was missing, I say openly.”
If temporary employees make up such a substantial part of UvA employees, then you have to pursue a decent personnel policy. And that was missing
Unions and action groups have been fighting for years for a reduction in the number of temporary contracts. The UvA's move could have major national consequences. The proportion of temporary lecturers at the UvA is relatively low compared to other universities.
Full-fledged jobs
Within a week, Ten Dam hopes to reach agreement with the trade unions and the works council on "a socially solid teacher policy that is appropriate for this time". Starting teachers without research tasks will then be appointed for four years, just as is currently the case for postdocs and PhD students. They get full-fledged jobs of four or five days a week, unless they want to work less themselves.
They do not give lectures, but supervise working groups and do not have to develop new education or perform coordinating tasks. Lecturers who already do so will then be given a permanent appointment. “That sounds like an enormous open door,” says Ten Dam, “but when we collect the stories deep down in the institution, that is by no means always the case. So that just has to be better.”
No further research necessary
HR director Robert Grem estimates that half of the UvA lecturers without research tasks will soon have a four-year entry-level job and the other half a permanent position. It is not expected to lead to many additional costs.
Half of the UvA lecturers without research tasks are given a four-year entry-level job and the other half a permanent position
This puts the UvA ahead of the pack. In the new collective labor agreement there are no proposals to offer temporary teachers career prospects. However, a “joint study” has been announced into how the contractual position of teachers can be improved in the next collective labor agreement period.
Ten Dam: “We don't really need that research. We decided this fall that we should realize the improvements earlier. And nothing stands in the way of us doing just that. As the UvA, we owe this to our position."
The UvA is ahead of the pack
Last week, Ten Dam put his words into action. A full-page job advertisement in which the Faculty of Humanities recruited about 15 temporary lecturers was withdrawn on her initiative. “As a board, we set the picket posts. Faculty policy cannot be contrary to what we agree as an employer. That sometimes causes some unrest in the organization, but that's about it."
tally strike
Did the strike by teachers of the Casual action group in April still play a role? “We've been working on this since October,” says Ten Dam, “but the pressure from Casual has fueled the discussion at the UvA considerably, and that's a good thing.”
The students should not be the victims of the check strike† “We watch out for that and fortunately the striking teachers can also be held accountable for this. We assume that Casual will resume work if we reach an agreement with the local unions," said Ten Dam.
Whether that will happen is not yet certain. According to Casual UvA, four-year contracts are still temporary contracts for structural work.
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