Queens UCU: probation petition

Perhaps a possible scenario to consider: A new staff member from another country/culture arrives at QUB with partner and 2 children (3 years/6 years old) to take up a new post. S/he and the family need to adapt to the new cultural/institutional environment, find a place to live, organise creche, school etc etc – settling down can be quite a challenge in itself! Presumably the new staff member will be expected to take on a considerable teaching and admin load on arrival. To further expect him/her to generate funding during the probation period to help balance the University's books is certainly not a very family-friendly management decision and should be reviewed.

I strongly support this petition

I support this petition.

I fundamentally disagree with Queens' treatment of its staff.

This is an unrealistic expectation of academic staff on probation generally and in particular during these times of lean funding. Changing conditions of employment in this way is unjust, unfair and lacks integrity.

Times are difficult and universities are desperate for funding, but this is not a realistic way forward for any of us. The request is unreasonable and the way it has been approached is simply bad management.

To retrospectively apply this requirement to people who were not told about it when they accepted their positions is unjust.

I support this petition entirely. These are punitive and potentially damaging strictures for early career researchers.

These requirements seem unfair, counter-productive and highly demotivating.

I support this petition wholeheartedly

I strongly support this petition.

I strongly support this petition against these deeply damaging probationary requirements.

I fully support this petition.

I strongly support this petition.

I strongly support this petition

I can think of no better way than the introduction of policies such as these to drive people away from academic careers

I fully support this petition.

What about `the rule of law'? Why is one of the parties able to tear up a contract without consultation? My brother describes similar things in the fire service in London. Yet the golden handshakes and extraordinary pension arrangements enjoyed by those guilty of gross mismanagement in the banking sector are sacrosanct. They have contracts that `can't be touched'. The Irish government is guily of similar transgressions. It seems that one has to be in a position buy justice in the UK or Ireland.

QUB say that they will provide "flexibility for talent to flourish" and that they " will work to create an inspiring research environment that nurtures talent and rewards outstanding leadership and excellence." (http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/ResearchEnterprise/OurResearch/Strategy/) This regulation is neither flexible nor nurturing and contradicts the research ethos which the university claims to promote.

This is very poor practice by a university which attempts to represent itself as one of the better higher education institutions in Ireland and the UK.