BM84: Resolution on good working conditions in HEIs

Working conditions in higher education institutions are not only shaping the living
conditions of their employees but also have a direct impact on the quality and
possibilities of research, teaching and learning.
ESU supports good working conditions in all higher education institutions. This entails
a proper salary, effective procedures to ensure employees’ rights, secure
employment, contractual working hours that reflect the actual duties, as well as the
unrestricted right to unionize and negotiate collective agreements.
In too many higher education systems and specific higher education institutions
(HEIs), working conditions are well below an acceptable standard.
This is also the case for Germany, where were over 82% of academics below
professorship are employed through fixed-term-contracts, often with less paid hours
than they actually work.
ESU calls on the German government during the current revision of the
Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (WissZeitVG / Academia-fixed-term-contract-law)
to lay the foundation for substantially more indefinite contracts below the
professorship, minimum contract terms for PhD students of at least four years with at
least 75% jobs, minimum contract terms for student assistants of two years and an
end of the restrictions for collective agreements to bargain on these issues.
For those academics who are employed to complete a doctorate, contracts must
allocate sufficient time for qualification beside other duties. Student assistants and
PhD students/employees in particular have to be protected from the impact of the
dual dependency on their supervisors as employees and learners.
ESU also calls on the German states’ governments to support including student
assistants into the collective agreement in place for all other university employees,
including effectively giving them access to employee representation councils.

Proposer: fzs, Germany