Academic staff in DCU concerned by workload and precarious jobs
SIPTU Education Sector Organiser Louise O’Reilly
An extensive survey of SIPTU members of the academic staff of Dublin City University (DCU) has found widespread concerns over increasing workloads and stress associated with the growing use of short term contracts.
SIPTU Education Sector Organiser, Louise O’Reilly, said: “What has emerged from the responses to this survey is that DCU academics work extremely long hours, do not feel consulted about change, are sometimes subject to bullying and harassment, feel overburdened by administrative tasks and increasingly find their jobs overwhelmingly stressful.”
SIPTU DCU Section Committee chairperson, Ronaldo Munck, said: “The survey worryingly found that, for most respondents, heavy workloads are becoming extremely stressful and many constantly feel under pressure.”
He added: “Those who work part-time and those who are employed on temporary contracts are treated worse than permanent staff. They suffer from high levels of uncertainty in relation to their job status and this has a deep impact on the quality of their lives. These contracts mean they have no control over their careers and many find themselves unable to plan ahead.”
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