The Contract Negotiations were initiated by the University Executive Team (UET) in Spring 2022, due to the imminent change of business address and change in benefits imposed by the campus move. This was seen as a chance to create standardized contracts that reflect current legal requirements for all employees at the University. The UCU looked to the negotiations as an opportunity to establish a progressive, forward-looking contract that ensured equality, fairness, and security for all faculty.
The negotiations on full-time and fractional faculty contracts started in May, with meetings held with the UCU’s negotiating team, Staff Reps, and the Executive Team, on shared contractual items. The UCU identified a number of faculty-specific clauses that we wanted improved. Key clauses included:
- Notice Period – to ensure alignment with sector norms
- Confidentiality and Intellectual property – to ensure ownership of our scholarly research
- Benefits – noting the loss of lunch for some faculty
- Sickness Leave – ensuring that faculty can meaningfully take leave for illness
In the process of negotiations, it became clear that several areas need to be simultaneously addressed in order to progress the contracts. These included Academic Role Profile, Benefits, and the Employee Handbook. Aligning these mutually affecting documents have slowed the progress of the contract negotiations as has the consultations with the University’s solicitors.
During the negotiations, the UCU has succeeded in:
- reducing the notice period to 3 months
- ensuring ownership of our research and gaining clarification and limitations of other aspects of intellectual property
- reducing the punitive tone of the contract
- the inclusion of more explicit provisions for consultation of any changes in the terms
In addition to addressing specific clauses, we fought for a contract that was positive and collegial in tone, and that was easy to comprehend to ensure faculty clearly understand their rights and obligations: Where legalese still dominates, we have suggested FAQs are needed.
We have outstanding concerns about Sick Leave and the change in benefits to employees, which we will continue to press for improvements for all faculty.
The UCU succeeding in initiating simultaneous negotiations on adjunct faculty contracts, as a result of our campaigning on zero-hour contracts. The Union has been pressing for more secure employment for Adjunct Faculty who have taught the same courses over a number of semesters. The UET has set this at 4 years, the Union is pushing for the threshold for Guaranteed Courses Contracts to be lowered to 2 years.
We are disappointed in the slow progress on the Guaranteed Courses for Adjunct Faculty which was further delayed by the Brazel Supreme Court ruling on seasonal part-time holiday pay. However, we insist that security and fairness be ensured in these contracts. We have consulted with Adjunct colleagues to create documents setting out clear roles and responsibilities, and guidance. The UET are optimistic in rolling out adjunct contracts during Spring 2023.