Call for Mobilization on Improving the status of employees in Higher Education and Research in Europe

Due to Higher Education and Research situation in Europe and in each European country, ETUCE (European Trade Union Committee for Education) urges all Higher Education and Research staff in our respective countries to mobilise for joint action before the Bologna Ministerial Conference that will stand in Yerevan on the 14-15th of May 2015.

With this appeal, ETUCE condemns:

• the precarious employment increasing, including short term, and poorer and poorer working conditions,
• the loss of academic freedom,
• the foundations of research being under attack.

ETUCE call the European Union institutions and each European country to take action for:

• Solidarity within the European Union and throughout Europe that will enable the balanced development of Higher Education and Research;
• An ambitious, multi-year recruitment plan for Higher Education and Research staff based on secure employment;
• A significant increase in core funding for Research Institutions/Bodies and Higher Education Institutions;
• A policy for the development of all areas of research, guaranteeing diversity in subjects and in approaches to research, the respect of research methods, together with appropriate time frames and academic freedom for individuals and higher education and research institutions;
• A policy of eliminating inequality, in particular gender-related inequality;
• The restoration and development of a democratic approach and a team spirit within Higher Education Institutions and Research Institutions/Bodies.

The European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), the EI Regional Structure in Europe, is the teachers' social partner at European level and a defender of teachers' interests to the European Commission. ETUCE was established in 1977.

ETUCE represents 131 teachers' unions in 48 countries. In total numbers, ETUCE represents 11 million members all over Europe. The Norwegian Association of Researchers (NAR) is a member of EI and ETUCE.

More information at the ETUCE web site: csee-etuce.org