By CAUT Staff

In what the organization hailed as the “biggest decasualisation win in the history of UK higher education,” the University and College Union (UCU) last month announced the rolling out of permanent contracts for 4,800 associate lecturers at Open University–the largest university in the UK for undergraduate education.

The former contract academic staff also get salary increases of between 10-15 per cent, additional annual leave, and staff development allowances.

According to UCU, two-thirds of research staff in higher education are on fixed-term contracts.

Earlier this year, UCU members at Oxford Brooks and Oxford universities released a report on precarious academic work which highlighted stalled career progression, low and/or unstable income, mental health issues and lack of employment rights.

After years of sustained campaigning and extensive negotiations, the contract agreement between UCU and Open University eliminates the constant need for contract staff to re-apply for employment.