There is nothing inevitable about the levels of casualisation in the
higher education sector, nor has it come about by accident; it is the
result of universities’ reliance on a particular business model. After
adjusting for inflation, the sector has seen its total income rise by
around 15% over the last six years, while casualisation continues to grow.
For all these reasons, Oxford Brookes UCU and Oxford University UCU
joined forces to collect testimonies from their casualised members.
Collecting and sharing these stories means giving voice to those who
too often feel unable to question their terms of employment, for fear of
having their hours cut or not having their fixed-term contract renewed.
For our casualised colleagues, our branches and your fellow workers
are reaching out to tell you that you are not alone and that there are
ways we can take collective action to improve our conditions: contact
your reps and your branch, get involved, and don’t hesitate to ask for
information about your contract and rights.
For our colleagues in more
stable roles, this is a call to show your solidarity: talk to your students and precarious colleagues about joining the union, and support anti-
casualisation initiatives organized locally and nationally. ‘What can I do?’, includes more practical suggestions on how all UCU members
can challenge casualisation.