Universities are exploiting staff with one-sided, sexist and potentially illegal employment contracts, according to a teaching union.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the largest teaching union, said it has uncovered widespread use of zero-hours contracts, potential sex discrimination against women and holiday pay practices which it believes are unlawful.
All higher education institutions use zero-hours contracts, which tie employees to an institution with no guarantee of regular paid work, according to the EIS.
According to the EIS, some universities give staff “as few employment rights as legally possible.”
It has also uncovered “potential sex discrimination against women” as the majority of zero-hours contract holders are women, with some receiving no occupational sick pay, no occupational maternity and paternity pay, limited pensions, and significantly less annual leave than permanent employees.
Every university gave payment in lieu of holidays rather than paid time off, a practice that the EIS believes is unlawful since employers should pay their employees at the time they take their leave.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The EIS opposes the use of zero-hours contracts as they create an unbalanced or one-sided relationship between the organisation and the individual contract holder who may be exploited.
“Zero-hours contracts rob individuals of full and fair employment rights and prevent them from gaining employment stability or financial security.”