Thread by @Mcr_Precariat

.@UCU, @UCUAnti_Cas seminar on protecting staff on casualised contracts live now. Hosted by Jane Thompson. This is very much our kind of event!
fundthefuture.org.uk/event/protecti…

Starting with @ChristinaUCU introducing @zenscara, who says that the experience of being on a casualised contract never leaves you. #COVID19 has shown how vital it is to fight for secure work. Everyone can support precarious members via 10 steps campaign [tweeted yesterday]

.@zenscara: employers could have made more use of furlough for casualised staff, showing 2nd class status. Need more communication between branches and between branches and union centre, as part of #FundTheFuture campaign

.@zenscara: Financial Times turning out to be surprisingly progressive in its coverage... Sharing videos etc makes a difference

Kyran Joughin from @UCU_UAL @precarious_ual: hourly-paid lecturers often don't realise that they can be in the union. #FourFights campaign made a big difference. Multi-campus uni makes organisation difficult.

Kyran Joughin: @UCU_UAL have achieved a security of employment agreement, centred on permanent status after 4 years' work. 2.5k associate and hourly-paid lecturers @UAL have the right to the hours which they worked in the previous year

Kyran Joughin from @UCU_UAL: #FourFights campaign was a determined push centred on casualisation and racial pay gap, both major issues @UAL. Some teaching is outsourced to a for-profit org: the names of staff had to be found (by new reps, providing extra capacity)

Now @SteffanBlayney and Eda Yazici from @sheffielducu: ensured that hourly-paid workers were furloughed (at 100% of expected wage). GTA income protected until end of 2019/20 teaching year. Uni funded extensions for final-year PhDs on uni scholarships, and hardship fund for PGRs

.@SteffanBlayney: but now @sheffielduni is making cuts. All but c.70 research contracts initially extended, but as teaching contracts come end it has been harder to protect workers. Have been reaching out to people, using surveys and social media etc (see #PrecarityStories)

Eda Yazici, also from @sheffielducu: efforts to quantify cuts in individual departments. Campaign to 'spam' university leadership and its PR operation, with groups of permanent staff writing to senior management. Have created a campaign toolkit [highly recommended]

Eda Yazici: we met with friendly student societies and SU officers to build campaign and student advocacy for their learning conditions.

2 yrs ago a graduate teaching contract negotiated (zero hours): recognition as employees gives entitlement to redundancy pay and S188 process

Elaine White from @UCUBradfordColl: last year won a deal on hourly-paid contracts, with fractionalisation and 2-yr limit for hourly-paid arrangements. Better contracts for c.100 people. Richer universities have no excuse! 2018 FE Fights Back campaign was the foundation for this

Elaine White: jobs and contract fractions are now under threat again. A petition is available to sign.

Anthony O'Hanlon, president @ULivUCU2: valuable support from @DanCardenMP, @KimJohnsonMP, @PaulaBarkerMP, @IanByrneMP as branch took an early proactive approach. Important as VCs are keen to maintain relationships with MPs. Demands: 1:6 pay ratio, #DefendAllJobs

Anthony O'Hanlon, @ULivUCU2: university leaders shouldn't be allowed to launder their reputations through the civic mission of the their institutions: their employment practices are as abhorrent as any out there.

Now @aimeemle from @CoronaContract: many precarious staff facing hardship, deportation, leaving their profession. Disproportionately PoC and women. Petition started in March to anticipate a hiring freeze, + model branch motion. In May @IWGBunion collaboration @GoldsmithsUoL

.@aimeemle: we need strong grassroots campaign, building networks. Need for anti-casualisation officers at a regional level.

Now a Q&A session around pre-submitted questions and live chat comments.

Q about worrying use of casual contracts to boost BAME staff ratios: @zenscara notes that BAME staff already disproportionately impacted by precarity, equality impact assessments inc. 'non-renewal' needed

Q from @SouthThamesColl: fears about late confirmation of courses for next year. @zenscara: campaign and networking needs to start now

Q on legal obligations of universities to respond to findings of equality impact assessments. @zenscara: employers could be failing in public duties, enforceable by EHRC. But reputational damage (moral obligations) likely to be more effective...

.@zenscara: nb. cuts to GTA provision could impact on ability of students to continue with their studies, also with equalities implications.

Q on definition of casualisation! @zenscara: UCU uses a 'spectrum' definition, disputed by employers (as in recent negotiations with @UCEA1). Further Qs on visibility of @UCU on the ground, actions against zero hours contracts: some successes in this area

.@zenscara pauses to catch her breath whilst Jane Thompson speaks more about #FundTheFuture. Need to shame employers on equality impacts. @UCU 10 steps pledge has been inspired in part by grassroots campaigns

Jane Thompson: employers refusing to provide data on volume of potential cuts. We need greater membership density amongst people on casualised contracts. Need to show impacts on students, research, next generation of researchers, greening and decolonising curricula

Back to @zenscara: important/frustrating guidance on legal restrictions on union action, but welcomes commitment and achievements of activists @GoldsmithsUCU @CleanersFor. Need to support branches considering industrial action

.@ChristinaUCU of @LondonMetUni: important that people get involved with @UCUAnti_Cas and union democracy. Links with permanent staff and students are fundamental. Need to recruit more casualised members.

.@ChristinaUCU on upcoming events: possible conference, further webinars, support for campaigns. @Zenscara sums up: employers rely on casualised staff, whether or not they chose to recognise it. Need fundamental rethink of how education is funded. Remember our strength as workers

That's all: thanks to everyone involved @UCU and in branches across the country. In #PrecariousHE, #WeAreTheUniversity

Video of the full session available here:

Bonus not-so-live tweet from @aimeemle's contribution: 20 members of @SOAS exec board are paid £1.9m, 282 fractional staff (@FFFPsoas) are paid £1.7m collectively. (It's not easy to keep track of such eye-watering figures whilst live tweeting...)