Oxford Lecturers Launch Lawsuit Over 'Uberisation' of Contracts

Benjamin Oakden Gaming Editor

Two lecturers employed by the University of Oxford have launched a lawsuit against the institution, arguing that the university doesn’t provide them with an acceptable level of job security. The two lecturers were employed on fixed-term contracts, which meant that they were legally not classified as official employees. Despite teaching at Oxford for over 15 years, the two were laid off in 2022.

ruling that required Uber drivers to be considered employees and gain full employment rights.

The academics, Alice Jolly and Rebecca Adams, argue that their teaching situation, which involved working on a zerohour contract with no pay for preparation work and no holiday pay, was in violation of their employment rights. The pair used the term ‘uberisation’ to refer to their situation, in reference to a landmark 2021

The issue of academic employment rights is linked to wider criticism of the so-called ‘gig-economy’. Critics of the gig economy argue that too much of the work-force is made up of temporary employees who receive no minimum hours of work, making it difficult for them to ensure a regular income. Zero-hour contracts remain legal under British law, with proponents arguing that they give workers a level of flexibility which would be impossible with regular contracts. However, people employed under zero-hour contracts still receive the protection of certain workers rights, such as holiday pay, meaning that Jolly and Adams may well have a case against the University of Oxford.

Although zero-hour contracts are often associated with ‘low-skilled work’, their employment in higher education is commonplace. One of the key reasons for the current University and College Union (UCU) strikes, which will take place over 18 days throughout February and March, is the insecure contracts that academics are frequently being employed under. Although zero-hour contracts are legal, the UCU argue that such contracts do not reflect the highly skilled, work-intensive nature of the field.

Although they have not commented on this specific case, the University of Oxford maintain that ‘The University's main terms and conditions of employment apply equally to all staff.' It also said it would not comment on the individual case while it is pending.