University College Cork has denied that it is operating a casualisation policy for hiring staff amid claims that a third of teaching staff are not “permanent” employees, according to the Evening Echo.
In the face of claims by the Irish Federation of University Teachers that at least one-third of staff delivering teaching to students are now employed on a purely casual basis, the University has issued a denial.
In recent days, the union has argued that more than 200 academic staff are working on part-time or short-term contracts, with no certainty of work year on year.
A spokesperson from UCC said that the university was merely operating under strict national employment controls that were introduced to cut costs across the entire university sector. The spokesperson said UCC “is not operating a casualisation policy but is required to show full regard for employment controls which are in place across the sector.
“UCC continues to prioritise the employment of academic staff and this is evidenced by the fact that there has been a much greater reduction in levels of administrative staff vis a vis academic staff,” the spokesperson said.
“In delivering a large and diverse range of courses it is important that the University maintains flexibility to ensure that the appropriate expertise is available to deliver on all of its programmes.”
IFUT has claimed however that there is “clear evidence” that people are being employed on a casual basis in the college.
“The simple fact is that this is happening and it seems to be happening increasingly,” a spokesperson said.
“IFUT accepts that universities are under financial pressure but would rather work with UCC to address the problem of lack of funding for third level than ignore the problem exists.”
The union has launched a Charter that commits it to collective action to “defend the rights of casual workers.”
The issue arose from a meeting on Casualisation of Academic Work: Solidarity or Precarity organized by the UCC Branch of IFUT last April.
According to the document, IFUT members will not co-operate with “unethical/exploitative employment or labour practices” and will engage with the Students’ Union to ensure that students are aware of the unacceptable conditions of employment to which they say some of their lecturers and tutors are subjected.
This article first appeared in today’s Evening Echo.
